Officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday said they had destroyed 21,000 litres of products suspected to be refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.
The products were destroyed an oil thieves’ hideout at Ubenikang in Ibeno Local Government Area during the Navy’s anti-theft operation.
NNS Jubilee’s commander Commodore David Adeniran said the Navy discovered four standard pumping machines and two submersible pumps at the scene during the raid on the oil thieves’ hideout.
Commodore Adeniran said the Navy’s action was in line with its war against oil thieves.
He warned oil thieves and other criminals in Ibeno to relocate, adding that they would not escape the government’s trap, if they continued their illicit business.
Commodore Adeniran said the Navy was ready to tackle the challenges in the maritime environment.
He said: “The measure to be taken in curbing the activities of illegal bunkering operators and other related criminalities is not for the Navy alone. We are going to work, as usual, in conjunction with other security agencies and the communities where we operate. We will continue to work together to ensure that their activities are checked.
“We have warned the perpetrators on several occasions to desist from illegal bunkering and related crimes and go into productive businesses.”
Commodore Adeniran added that oil thieves caused environmental hazard and economic sabotage.