In continuation of the anti-crude oil theft operations of the Nigerian Navy in the Niger Delta, patrol teams deployed by the Service have raided and destroyed more illegal bunkering and refinery sites. This is even as the Nigerian Navy has intensified patrol of the maritime areas of the country in order to deter any form of security beaches and threats.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Naval Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe said: “On 16 November 2016, the patrol team deployed by Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso in Bayelsa State arrested MV MIDES 2 and two other Cotonou boats for suspected illegal bunkering activities at Sonikiri Community in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa State.

MV MIDES 2 was while arrested carrying out transfer of suspected illegally refined AGO to the Cotonou boats.

“In another raid, on 18 November, 2016, the patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER in Rivers State destroyed an illegal refinery site containing about 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 40,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Bille Creek in Rivers State.

“Similarly the patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA arrested four persons onboard a Cotonou boat laden with suspected stolen crude oil on the Forcados River. This feat is in addition to an earlier raids conducted by the operatives in which a Cotonou boat laden with about 15 metric tones (MT) of product suspected to be crude oil was destroyed at Benneth Island in Delta State.”

•Photo shows Nigerian Navy operatives on duty.

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