Nigerian Military Arrests Fishing Trawlers, Discovers 30 Oven Illegal Refinery Site In Delta
By Lazarus Zakaa
The Maritime component of the Armed Forces of Nigeria has uncovered Over 30 oven illegal refinery site at Opumami in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state.
The Maritime components also stormed big time Criminal Entrepreneurs in the area, arresting a fishing Trawler.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General, Bernard Onyeuko, the Armed Forces said the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA patrol teams achieved the height while conducting anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT)/anti-illegal bunkering operations in the Area.
He stated that the patrol team located an illegal refining site around Opumami in Warri South LGA of Delta State. The site according to him had 30 ovens, 40 receivers and 16 dugout pits cumulatively laden with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 40,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO.
He disclosed further that the team on the same day discovered another illegal refining site at around Opumami general area. The site had 2 ovens, one receiver, 8x 250 litres metal drums and one dugout pit cumulatively laden with about 30,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 25,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
“No arrest was made during the operations as the miscreants fled on sighting NNS DELTA patrol team. Due process is being followed to clear the site”. He added.
Gen. Onyeuko also disclosed that the Nigerian Navy Ship DORINA while on routine patrol arrested a fishing trawler, HAJIYA BINTA for operating in Nigerian waters without its Automatic Identification System (AIS).
The arrest he explained effected at about 5 nautical miles off the ESCRAVOS breakwaters.
“Upon interrogation, the Captain of the vessel, affirmed that the AIS of the vessel was not operational as at the time of her arrest due to a fault it developed while at sea.
“HAJIYA BINTA was handed over to NIMASA officials on 31 Mar 20 in line with due process”. He added.
