The Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt has successfully obliterated an illicit refinery with a massive three million-liter capacity in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation consisted of six refining camps situated within Cawthorne Channel 2 along the state’s coastline.
The facility was reportedly engaged in the unlawful extraction of crude oil from a wellhead within Oil Mining Lease 18, a venture jointly managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and Sahara Energy. The operation to neutralize this illicit refinery was executed by the Tactical Assault Squadron of NNS.
The Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, led a group of journalists on a tour of the illegal refinery. During this visit, he expressed his frustration at the audacity of the suspected oil thieves who were persistently undermining the nation’s economy.
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Also, Igbo highlighted the severe environmental damage caused by these individuals. He revealed that they had installed a six-inch pipeline stretching over 2 kilometers from the wellhead to the three million-liter capacity reservoir. This reservoir served as a central hub for distributing crude oil to the six unlawful refining camps.
He stated, “This is not the best way to earn a living. There are so many ways to earn a living instead of damaging the environment and also they are depriving the Federal Government of the needed revenue.”
The Commander, who supervised the disconnection of the illegal pipeline from the wellhead and the destruction of the camps, warned youths to desist from illicit activities to make quick money and embrace legitimate means of livelihood.
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“Here is NNPCL OML-18 oil well head that is being tapped with a six-inch hose connected to the wellhead by oil thieves. The hose runs for about 2 kilometres from the wellhead to their reservoir and thereafter channels it to their cooking pots. This is a clear case of economic sabotage.
“My men, the Tactical Assault Squadron of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, on our patrol in the creeks, discovered the site on Tuesday, and we are here to ensure that this does not continue anymore.
“Also, this is in compliance with and pursuit of the Chief of Naval Staff’s, Vice Admiral, Emmanuel Ogalla’s directives to his field commanders that we must ensure that the issue of oil theft in the Niger Delta becomes history and is eradicated at least to the barest minimum. The capacity of the bunkering sites runs into 3 million litres if not more,” Igbo said.