The Nigeria Navy has in a bid to end transportation of illegally refined petroleum products on waterways has set up new posts under its Operation River Dominance.
This was as the Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Rowland Sekibo, alongside his task force on illegal bunkering and security men destroyed seven artisanal refineries within the Abise area of the LGA.
Speaking during the operation led by Sekibo into the creeks of Abise, the Base Operation Officer, NNS pathfinder, Commander Umaru Abubakar, noted that Operation River Dominance has lasted for 13 days, adding that the operation was conducted by the tactical riverine assault squadron of the base.
Abubakar said that the operation has recorded more gains, adding that they have destroyed many bunkering sites in the LGA.
He said, “As you can see, we are gaining ground as we are dismantling more illegal refining sites and the other simultaneous operations we are conducting, we have established riverine command posts, and waterborne guard posts within the waterways.
“The establishment of these posts has provided deterrence by denial, which means, it has denied freedom of action to the economic saboteurs by stopping from moving the illegal products.
“What is most pleasing, particularly today, or during the conduct of this is the level of synergy and cohesion by all participating agencies. It is my belief that that is the key enabler towards that attainment of our collective objective of fighting economic saboteurs in the state.”
Abubakar said they have arrested barges, wooden boats, and dismantled a lot of illegal refinery sites in the operation, adding that the necessary logistics for the duty have been provided.
However, Sekibo said the team has recorded tremendous success in the ongoing war, noting that the operators of the refineries were armed.
Sekibo said, “We have done two of our clusters, and we are in the third cluster and this area is known as Abise area. Unfortunately, it is prone to this illegal business.
“Consequently, I want to call on all stakeholders to assiduously be committed to ensuring that we bring to an end this menace once and for all in this local government.
“Because of our terrain, we cannot come here without gunboats and the Navy has been gracious enough to provide gunboats, personnel, and logistics.
“We are yet to identify the owners of the camps, because our informant said they have not been here before, because the people that operate this camp are armed so the community has been unable to come here.”
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