The Nigerian Navy, on Monday, said it was looking for one Mr John said to be an illegal refinery kingpin in Rivers State.
The hunt for Mr John, the navy said, followed the arrest of 11 suspects, attempting to construct an illegal refinery.
According to the navy, the suspects, who were arrested in Krakrama Creeks in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, claimed that they were working for Mr John.
The Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, while parading the arrested suspects before newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, said, “The arrested suspects claimed they were contracted by one Mr John. At the moment, the base is making concerted efforts to arrest Mr John and other suspects involved in this criminal act.”
The military has in recent times destroyed many illegal refineries in the Niger Delta as part of efforts to end oil theft and shore up Nigeria’s daily crude oil production.
The NNS Pathfinder Commander said the 11 suspects were intercepted by the navy’s Tactical Response and Assault Squadron while they were travelling in a boat with instruments for the construction of an illegal refinery.
Igbo, who was represented by the NNS Base Operations Officer, Commander Sa’id Kabir, said, “In line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic mandate on zero tolerance for crude oil and other petroleum products theft, the base has been resolute in conducting operations to deny the oil thieves freedom of action in its area of operations.
“Consequently, on January 23, 2024, the Base Tactical Response and Assault Squadron, while on routine patrol around Krakrama Creeks, intercepted a boat with 11 crew and laden with 10 metal plates, 14 angle iron as well as 20 gas cylinders.
“The items were carefully concealed in a wooden boat are materials used for the construction of illegal refinery sites in the creeks.
“Further findings revealed that the suspects were conveying the items to Bille general area (Degema Local Government) for the construction of an illegal refining site.
“Additional investigation revealed that the arrested suspects are workers used for the construction of the illegal refining site.”
After parading the suspects before newsmen on Monday, the navy handed them over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps “for further investigation and prosecution.”
The NNS Pathfinder Commander warned oil thieves and other criminal elements within Bile and other part of Rivers State to change their ways as “the base will stop at nothing to ensure they are arrested and brought to justice.”
“It is important to state that the base will not be deterred by blackmail or antics of enemies of the nation against the Nigerian Navy in the discharge of its constitutional duties.
“The base wants to assure the good people of Rivers State of its readiness to provide a peaceful and secure environment that would enable them to conduct their legitimate commercial activities,” Igbo said.
