Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ahead Working Base (FOB), Igbokoda, have uncovered and dismantled an unlawful refinery in Obe-Jedo and Obe-Adun communities in Ilaje Native Council of Ondo State.
FOB Commander, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, confirmed the operation, disclosing that seven suspects have been arrested on the scene, whereas regionally made weapons and machetes believed to have been utilized in resisting arrest have been recovered.
Usman stated the raid adopted credible intelligence on financial sabotage and maritime crimes. About 3,000 litres of refined diesel saved in jerrycans, together with a number of cooking ovens used to course of stolen crude oil, have been found.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated the arrested suspects have been secondary individuals and had been launched, whereas the principle operators of the unlawful refinery had been declared needed.
Based on him, the Navy’s anti-crude-oil-theft group initially confronted violent resistance from a gaggle of employed youths and girls making an attempt to defend the criminality. To keep away from escalation, the operatives withdrew for a tactical reassessment.
“The group later returned within the early hours of the next day and found that the stolen crude oil and refined merchandise had been moved to a close-by bakery and makeshift constructions used as storage amenities,” he stated. “The unlawful refinery was subsequently deactivated according to directives from Defence Headquarters.”
Captain Usman condemned the confrontation as a “harmful innovation” by prison parts bent on irritating reputable safety operations and sabotaging nationwide sources.
He reiterated that the operation was according to the Chief of Naval Workers’s directive to curb crude oil theft and safeguard nationwide belongings.
“The Nigerian Navy urges all law-abiding residents of riverine communities in Ondo State to withstand being utilized by oil thieves,” he warned. “These prison ventures profit only some whereas destroying the livelihoods and ecosystems of all the neighborhood.”
He additional cautioned that anybody obstructing the Navy’s operations in opposition to crude oil theft could be handled as an confederate and prosecuted accordingly.
