The Nigerian Navy has recorded more successes in its efforts to get rid of oil thieves in the Niger Delta region as its patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER has again arrested two barges at Taraba Jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering.

One of the arrested barges, according to the Naval Director of Information, Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe, had about 70,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO while the other was carrying a mixture of AGO and water. He also stated that the patrol team arrested another barge conveying about 200 MT of suspected illegally refined AGO at Owogoro Jetty in Port Harcourt.

In a related development, the patrol teams deployed by NNS DELTA for daily patrols have continually secured shipping in and out of Warri axis. However, in the course of the patrol, the patrol team discovered and destroyed two illegal refineries together with an estimated 120MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO and another 20MT of stolen crude oil at Bikpoku Creek/Asigbo Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State.

Additionally, another patrol team from NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed five illegal refineries with about 100MT of combined products at KO Creek in Warri South West LGA of Delta State. Bringing to seven the number of illegal refineries destroyed in the area in the last two days.

•Naval patrol team on duty.