THE Nigerian Navy has destroyed six large wooden barges laden with at least 70,000 litres of diesel suspected to have been stolen from pipelines in Rivers State.
The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Commodore Kennedy Egbuchulam, who disclosed this on Friday, also said, that one suspect had been arrested in connection with the stolen diesel.
Egbuchulam spoke in Okrika after his men destroyed the wooden barges in Isaka, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers He said the barges were impounded during a routine patrol of waterways and creeks within the area.
He added that the barges were abandoned by the hoodlums, who took to their heels after sighting his men advancing to the place.
Egbuchulam, who spoke with newsmen through the NNS Pathfinder’s Operations’s Officer, Cdr. Raphael Ekuma, stated that the formation destroyed five illegal refineries in Okrika between July and August.
He observed that each time the Nigerian Navy destroyed illegal refineries, operators of the illicit refineries would return set up another one.
He said, “However, efforts are currently being made to provide equipment that will completely crush and destroy illegal refineries making them impossible to be reactivated by the hoodlums.
“The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, has assured of his commitment to stop attacks on oil facilities which has negative impact on our ecosystem and economy.”
Egbuchulam, urged members of the public to always furnish the navy with information that would lead to arrest of oil thieves.
He assured the public that the identities of those that would volunteer to give information on how to arrest oil thieves would be protected.
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