In the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, a three-million-liter capacity illicit refinery was destroyed by the Nigerian Navy ship NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt.
Unauthorized refinaries
On the state’s coast, in Cawthorne Channel 2, there is an unauthorized refinery with six refining sites.
The facility is accused of stealing crude oil from a wellhead in Oil Mining Lease-18, run by Sahara Energy and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, with the Tactical Assault Squadron of the NNS allegedly carrying out the operation.
The NNS Pathfinder Commander, Commodore Desmond Igbo, showed reporters around the illicit refinery on Wednesday and expressed resentment that the alleged oil thieves were consistently undermining the country’s economy.
This is not an ideal method to make a life
Igbo continued by alleging that the criminals were also harming the environment. He claimed that they had built a six-inch pipeline that ran more than two kilometers from the wellhead to a reservoir with a three million-liter capacity and distributed crude to six unlicensed refining facilities.
This is not the ideal method to make a life, he said. There are so many other methods to make a living that don’t harm the environment and also stop the federal government from getting the money it needs.
The commander, who oversaw the destruction of the camps and the detachment of the illegal pipeline from the wellhead, issued a warning to young people, urging them to abandon unlawful means of earning money in favor of legal ones.
Oil well being tapped by oil thieves
“This is the NNPCL OML-18 oil well head that is being tapped by oil thieves with a six-inch hose connected to the wellhead,” Igbo said.
According to jerrymusa.com the hose transports water about two kilometers to their reservoir before channeling it to their cooking pots. A clear case of economic sabotage exists here.
“My men, the Tactical Assault Squadron of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, found the site on our patrol in the creeks on Tuesday, and we are here to ensure that this does not continue any longer,” he said.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, had instructed his field commanders, “We must ensure that the issue of oil theft in the Niger Delta becomes history and eradicated at least to the barest minimum,” he continued.
Youths need to be aware
The bunkering locations have a 3 million-liter capacity, if not more. He revealed that plans were in place to involve community stakeholders in a conversation about oil theft.
“We are engaging the community stakeholders to talk to their youth about engaging in oil theft,” the NNS Pathfinder leader stated.
“When I took command again, I visited all the paramount chiefs and community leaders and requested that they summon their youths since the oil thieves need the help of the children to commit their crimes.
They should seek alternative support
“We have advised them to refrain from doing that and seek out alternative means of support.”
We haven’t made any arrests yet because the area is open, Igbo continued. The hoodlums fled when they saw us, but we are going to track them down and find out who is funding them because they are unable to enter this country without the support of powerful individuals.
“We will use our intelligence to take concrete action and ensure that we track down their sponsors.”