20,000 Litres Of Stolen Crude Are Recovered when the Navy demolishes An Illegal Refinery In Rivers
Over 20,000 gallons of reported stolen crude oil were recovered when the Nigerian Navy closed an illegal refining facility in Rivers State Bonny Local Government Area. Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, Acting Director of Naval Information, made this announcement on Friday in Abuja.
According to Folorunsho, members of the Eastern Naval Command Forward Operating Base, FOB, Bonny, conducted the mission as part of mission Delta Sentinel.
According to him, the operation was prompted by reliable information about illicit refining operations in Allison Community, Bonny. An active illegal refining station was found after an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was sent to the region, according to Folorunsho.
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 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were found to be stored at the facility 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 achievement showed the Nigerian Navy persistent efforts to stop economic sabotage and theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
He also stated that the action was in line with Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, Chief of the Naval Staff, CNS order to step up base on intelligence operations to protect vital oil infrastructure.
He pointed out that these efforts were also intended to help the federal government reach its goal of producing 2.5 million barrels of oil per day.
