Illegal refinery in Rivers: The Nigerian Navy has reported the arrest of 14 individuals for their alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in the Elem Krakama community within the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, naval authorities uncovered an illegal oil refining site capable of producing over 9.6 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, per day.
illegal refinery in Rivers:
Commander Desmond Igbo of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, spearheaded the operation on Thursday, during which three wooden boats with a combined storage capacity of 70 metric tons were confiscated. Igbo disclosed that the suspects were extracting crude oil from a tapped oil wellhead located within the Oil Mining Lease (OML-18) operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in the area. The wellhead had been severely compromised by the suspected oil thieves.
Expressing dismay at the extensive economic sabotage occurring in the vicinity, Igbo emphasized the Navy’s unwavering commitment to eradicating illegal oil refining activities. He highlighted the presence of 16 cooking pots, each capable of holding 6,000 litres of diesel, at the site. Igbo reiterated the Navy’s determination to put an end to such illicit activities.
“This is Elem Krakama in Degema LGA of Rivers State. We have come here to ensure that this oil stealing will not continue. We have made arrests, we arrested about 14 of them in the act of stealing the crude and also illegally refining this crude,” Igbo stated.
He further revealed the presence of large hoses illegally connected to the oil wellhead, facilitating the transfer of crude oil to large wooden boats, colloquially known as “Cotonou boats.” These boats, Igbo noted, contained 70 metric tons of crude oil, which was destined for further processing.
“We have four of these wooden boats in this camp. The cooking pots also contain about 1.5 million AGO. This is not good for our country, not good for the economy,” Igbo lamented, underscoring the detrimental effects of such illicit activities on the nation’s well-being.
