Oil theft: Illegal refinery discovered in Rivers State; Navy destroys site

The Nigerian Navy has announced that an illegal refinery discovered in Rivers State has been destroyed.

This comes after the federal government waged war against oil theft in the country following the lose of opportunity to produce and sell millions of barrels of oil over the years.

In a video shared on Twitter by Channels Television, the Nigerian Navy deployed some of its assets to survey the area in Rivers state where it was discovered that an illegal refinery was in operation.

Upon visiting the place, several of the people operating in the site escaped, however, a woman was apprehended. When questioned by Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim, Commander NNS Pathfinder, she revealed that she made her way from Delta state to Rivers to engage a woman whom she paid N150,000 to but fled immediately the patrol landed the area.

Speaking to the press on their discovery, Commodore Ibrahim narrated how his team made the discovery and their plans to curb the theft of crude oil in the country.

He said;

"We had one of our assets, the naval helicopter to do area patrol. it was in the course of the patrol that we discovered this site. Immediately boats were scrambled and we had our personnel, they slept here, through out the night they remained here, so that non of this assets that is been used to steal crude will be taken away. At the same time, we also contacted NNPC OML18, who are the operators of this field. In the course of my command, I have not found anybody who has come to say any military personnel is conniving with them and on several forah, I have challenged all of those people who made these allegations to come forward and tell us who, if they know the individuals they are conniving, name them and shame them."

Watch the video below;