In Rivers State’s Bonny Local Government Area, the Nigerian Navy shut down an illicit refinery and found over 20,000 liters of allegedly pilfered crude oil.
Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, the interim director of naval information, made this announcement on Friday in Abuja.
According to Folorunsho, members of Eastern Naval Command’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny conducted the operation as part of Operation Delta Sentinel.
He claimed that the location included sacks with what seemed to be stolen crude oil, dugout pits, and locally made cooking and cooling equipment.
Over 20,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil were found to be stored at the site after more investigation.
“The illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled in accordance with established operational procedures, while the perpetrators fled upon spotting the naval team,” he stated.
According to Folorunsho, the accomplishment demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s persistent efforts to stop economic sabotage and theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
He continued by saying that the action was in line with Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), who had ordered an increase in intelligence-driven operations to protect vital oil facilities.
He pointed out that these initiatives were also intended to help the federal government reach its goal of producing 2.5 million barrels of oil per day. (NAN)
