The Navy said the destruction took place shortly after an aerial
and land surveillance of areas where crude oil were illegally refined in the
state was discovered and as part of its recent campaign to mop up newly
discovered illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.
Mohammed explained that over 50,000 litres of illegally refined
diesel stored in 10 cooking tanks and a badge with the capacity to store
thousands of petroleum products were also destroyed by the Navy.
However, four suspects, who attempted to bribe the (Navy) with the
sum of N600,000, were arrested, and they (suspects) will be handed over to the
relevant authority for further investigation and prosecution.
“In the course of our operation today (Sunday),
an illegal refinery with 15 storage metallic tanks loaded with 145,000 litres
of stolen crude oil was set ablaze in Buguma, Asari Toru local Government Area
of Rivers State,” he said.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Pathfinder’s Base Operation
Officer, Commander Chidi Ejiofor, explained that operators of the illegal
refineries took to their heels on sighting security operatives.
“Ironically,
while setting the refinery ablaze, four out of the fleeing oil thieves came
back and offered us a bribe of N600,000 to spare the refinery. The four
suspects were subsequently arrested and would be handed over to the Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps for investigation and prosecution.
“There are about 33,000 creeks in the Niger
Delta of which the NNS Pathfinder is saddled with the responsibility of
monitoring more than 1,000 of the creeks and waterways. It is difficult to
maintain a 24-hour presence in all of these creeks and oil facilities
especially, having in mind, the shallowness of some of the creeks.
“So, sensitisation and government partnership
with communities will greatly help put a stop to attacks on oil and gas
installations, which not only affect everyone, but degrade the environment,” Mohammed said.
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