Oil theft: Nigerian Navy destroys 1.5 million litres of crude

The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday said it destroyed more than 1.5 million litres of crude oil along the shores of Gbekbo Creek in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

Other products destroyed by the Navy were 203 drums of illegally refined diesel and seven drums of petrol.

The Navy personnel stormed the creek with two fortified gunboats in an operation that lasted about six hours.

Addressing journalists at the scene, the Commander of NNS Delta, Musa Gemu, said the exercise was in compliance with the directive of the Chief Naval Staff to sanitise the creeks of illegalities.

Mr. Gemu, who led the operation, said it was going to be a continuous exercise until illegal oil bunkering and other criminal activities were completely eradicated along the waterways.

“The exercise is successful and the fight continues. Like I said earlier, this is almost the fifth exercise and it is a continuous one.

“We will keep coming from time to time until they stop the illegal activities,” he said.

Mr. Gemu said that the Navy would continue to inspect illegal refinery sites it had destroyed to ensure that criminals would not resume operations there.

”We will not just stop at inspecting the destroyed illegal refinery sites, the command will also take steps ahead and search for those sites where illegal businesses are perpetrated.

”Today, we saw and destroyed 12 illegal refineries, so we will sustain that momentum,” he said.

Two pumping machines, a generating set, an outboard machine and a saw were recovered in the operation.

He said no arrest was made because the oil thieves fled on sighting the Navy personnel.

(NAN)

Oil theft: Nigerian Navy destroys 1.5 million litres of crude