The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda announced the discovery of five illegal refineries in the Araromi seaside area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State. The military revealed that these refineries, holding a total of 365,000 liters of crude oil, are currently undergoing destruction as part of the Navy’s intensified efforts against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Navy Cpt. Wasuku Alushi, the Commanding Officer, highlighted that the operation aligns with the recently launched ‘Operation Delta Sanity,’ aimed at curbing illicit activities such as crude oil theft, illegal refining, and cultism.
During a tour of the illegal refining sites, Cpt. Alushi explained that the dismantling of these sites is crucial to rendering them inactive and curbing the activities of economic saboteurs. He disclosed the presence of five different illegal refining ovens, each with a refining capacity of 33,000 liters, emphasizing the use of local technology for fractional distillation.
The Commander noted that the illegally refined products, specifically Highly Gas Oil (HGO), are transported through a network of buried pipes connected to the high sea, where locally constructed boats transport the products for market distribution.
This operation, allegedly guided by credible intelligence, seeks to dismantle the well-orchestrated network of engineering utilized by criminal elements in these illegal refining activities.
IMAGE: Guardian
