Navy Dismantles Illegal Refinery, Arrests Seven In Ondo Communities

Personnel from the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) located in Igbokoda have detected and taken apart an unauthorized oil refining setup situated within the Obe-Jedo and Obe-Adun settlements in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The commander of the FOB, Navy Captain Aliyu Usman, revealed that a total of seven individuals suspected of involvement were detained right at the location, and additionally, crude homemade firearms along with cutlasses thought to have served as tools for opposing the apprehension were seized by the authorities.

Usman explained that the assault operation stemmed from reliable tips regarding activities amounting to economic disruption and offenses related to sea-based illegalities.

Approximately 3,000 litres worth of processed diesel fuel, which had been kept in plastic containers known as jerrycans, plus a number of makeshift cooking apparatuses employed for refining pilfered crude petroleum, came to light during the search.

He further noted that early-stage inquiries suggested that those who were captured in the act were merely peripheral figures in the scheme and thus have since been set free, whereas the primary figures running the illicit refining operation have now been officially listed as fugitives sought by law enforcement.

As per his account, the specialized Navy unit focused on combating theft of crude oil initially encountered fierce opposition from a band of recruited young men and females who were trying desperately to protect and conceal the unlawful enterprise. In order to prevent the situation from worsening into a larger conflict, the enforcement team pulled back temporarily to conduct a strategic reevaluation of their approach.

“The team later returned in the early hours of the following day and discovered that the stolen crude oil and refined products had been moved to a nearby bakery and makeshift structures used as storage facilities,” he said. “The illegal refinery was subsequently deactivated in line with directives from Defence Headquarters.”

Navy Captain Usman strongly denounced the aggressive encounter as a “dangerous innovation” perpetrated by nefarious actors determined to hinder proper law enforcement efforts and to undermine the country’s vital natural resources.

He once again emphasized that this particular mission aligned perfectly with the instructions issued by the Chief of Naval Staff aimed at reducing incidents of crude oil pilfering and protecting key national properties.

“The Nigerian Navy urges all law-abiding residents of riverine communities in Ondo State to resist being used by oil thieves,” he warned. “These criminal ventures benefit only a few while destroying the livelihoods and ecosystems of the entire community.”

Moreover, he issued a stern advisory stating that any person who interferes with or blocks the Navy’s initiatives targeted at stopping crude oil theft will be regarded in the eyes of the law as a collaborator in the crime and will face legal proceedings as such.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli