…As Navy Destroys Over 7900 Metric Tons Of Crude Oil, 3 Illegal refineries In Delta
By Francis Sadhere
In continuation of its fights against illegal oil refineries in the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Navy has said that communities who provide their lands for the use of illegal refineries will have to forfeit their lands to the Federal Government.
The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Raimi Omuyi Mohammed stated this yesterday in Warri, Delta state after its carried out operation that lasted for more than five hours in three communities where it destroyed and set ablaze over seven thousand nine hundred (7900) metric tons of crude oil and one hundred and sixty-five metric tons of illegally refined NGO.
Comdr Mohammed said they decided to take this drastic action against the communities who give their lands to those who operate illegal refineries because they have found out that despite their efforts in destroying such camps, the operator seems to springing up again and again.
He said without the collaboration of community leaders, the illegal operators could not be waxing stronger by the day, adding that communities henceforth the government is going to crack down on such communities too.
The NNS Delta Commander said: ” For some time now we have been destroying these illegal refineries but they keep springing up as the demand for these product continues to increase. I think they communities involved should also share in this blame because they give their land to these people to carry out these illegal activities in their land.
“When we are going to summit our report the command base, we are going to suggest to them that those communities who give out their lands to those who carry out illegal refineries should forfeit such land to the Federal Government because it appears they do not need it. They only use it for illegal activities.”
He therefore called on community leaders in the Niger Delta region to collaborate with the Federal Government in it’s fight to stem the ugly activities of illegal oil refineries, adding that they are free to provide information to the appropriate authorities, promising that their identities will not be disclosed.
He said: “I had a meeting with about thirty eight communities from Warri South West and Warri South Local government areas where I made it clear that the communities will have to assist the federal government and most especially the navy, to stem this tide, otherwise they will be liable to lose their land.
“They should look around them because I believe that they know those people that perpetuating these crimes. They should inform us about the activities of these people and we will not disclose their identities. But if they fail to do that they are going to forfeit their lands to the Federal Government.”
speaking on allegation from certain quarters that Navy personnel collaborate with these illegal refinery operators, Comdr. Mohammed stressed that as far as he is concerned, none of his men had been caught working with the illegal refinery operators, vowing that if anyone of his men is caught in the act, he will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He however fingered some men of the National Task Force on Small Arms and some community vigilante groups who he said have been recently caught by the Nigerian Navy for collaborating with illegal oil refinery operators in the state.
He said: ” I cannot tell you who is conniving and who is not conniving. But I can tell you that from our side here we have put measures in place to make sure that our men do not have any contact with these men doing illegal activities. I cannot say what other organizations that are doing.
“I know in recent past we have made some arrest on some illegal organizations like the National Task Force On small Arms and some community vigilante who go round collecting money from these people which actually encourage them to continue the illegal business. As far as we are concerned all those who connive with these thieves will be seen as criminals and wherever we see them we are going to arrest them.”
Comdr. Mohammed also said that the Nigerian Navy is now pointing it’s search lights on those who buy these illegal products from the illegal refineries, noting that once they are able to stop the demand for the illegal product, the supply will also be minimized.
” Before now, we have been concentrating on the stealing of crude oil, but now we are shifting our attention to those who supply and receive this crude. Recently we have made several arrest on land. We have arrested five trailers loaded with crude oil products. They were arrested while they were receiving the products on land. So we hope that if we are able to curtail the demand, the supply will also be curtailed, the NNS Delta Commander said.
speaking on the operation, Comdr. Mohammed said: “Today’s operation was conducted in three areas; Benet Island, Pipeline Communities and Kantu community. In Benet Island a total of twenty eight storage pits used to store crude oil were discovered and a total of four thousand nine hundred metric tons of products suspected to crude oil were discovered and set ablaze. Also about sixty five point five metric tons of NGO were also discovered and were equally destroyed. Recovered from the camps were two pumping machines and two generating sets.
“In Kantu area and pipeline communities, my men discovered a total of twenty two storage pits. Sixteen were for NGOs worth about one hundred and thirty metric tons. While products suspected to be crude oil total about three thousand metric tons were also destroyed and set set ablaze by our men.”
