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Tag: Illegal refineries

  • Navy arrests eight suspects, destroyed 30 illegal refineries

    Navy arrests eight suspects, destroyed 30 illegal refineries

    The Nigerian Navy operating in the Niger Delta region has arrested eight suspected illegal oil marketers while destroying at least 30 illegal refineries in Delta state.

    In a series of intensified anti-crude oil theft operations, Nigerian Navy Ship NNS DELTA discovered and destroyed a total of 10 illegal refineries at a camp around Jones Creek, Warri South West LGA of Delta State.

    The facilities destroyed during the raid include 200 metal tanks, 35 dug pits loaded with about 3,000 metric tons (MT) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 1,500MT of illegally refined AGO.

    In a statement signed by the Acting Director of Information, Navy Captain Suleman Dahun in Abuja, a patrol team deployed by the Base arrested a suspect and destroyed a network of 6 illegal refineries around Ugbodede and Asugbo Creeks in Warri South LGA. The facilities destroyed in the sites during the raid include 25 metal tanks and 14 dug pits laden with about 2,590MT of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 415MT of illegally refined AGO while one suspect was arrested.

    Navy Captain Dahun said another patrol team deployed for anti-illegal bunkering/crude oil theft operations by the same naval base arrested two suspects and destroyed a network of illegal refineries around Ugbodede Creek in Warri South LGA. The facilities destroyed in the raid include a canvas storage pit laden with about 1,500MT of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. The team also discovered and disconnected a 6 inch metal pipe attached to an oil well used for siphoning crude oil.

    The Navy spokesman said NNS DELTA patrol team discovered and destroyed about 20 illegal refineries dump yard stores around Ugbuwangue Community in Warri South LGA. The facilities destroyed in the raid include 1,300 drums laden with about 150MT of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

    “In a similar operations carried out by patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER around marine Base axis, a wooden boat laden with some quantity of suspected illegally refined AGO was arrested. Four suspects were also arrested in connection with the products.

    “Also, a patrol team from the Base deployed at Taraba Jetty intercepted another wooden boat laden with an estimated 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO with four suspects. The vessel and suspects have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further action,” Dahun said.

     

  • Troops destroy 80 illegal refineries in Bayelsa, two others

    Troops of the Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 80 illegal refineries in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Co-ordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, Operation Delta Safe, Maj. Abubakar Abdullahi, said seven illegal refineries were destroyed in Bayelsa.

    Abdullahi said the refineries were discovered around Obhoyohan and Ngiri Creeks in Nembe local government area of the state.

    He said they contained 150,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while three suspects had been arrested in connection with the illegalities.

    In Delta, Abdullahi said the troops destroyed six illegal refineries made up of four storage tanks and two dug out pits filled with suspected crude oil around Sara Abiteye swamp in Warri South West local government area of the state.

    “Additionally, another patrol at the axis Ajoloso Creek in Elume community destroyed a camp housing eight illegal refineries,” the media co- ordinator said.

    “Similarly, troops destroyed nine illegal refineries that comprised four ground pits and three metal tanks filled with product suspected to be stolen crude oil at Katu near Camp 5 in Warri South-West.

    “This is in addition to seven illegal refineries earlier destroyed around Opunami Creek.

    “Another patrol conducted around Udu, Ughelli South local government area discovered eight illegal refineries depot at Udu trailer park and destroyed 1200 drums laden with 140 metric tonnes of illegally refined diesel.”

    Abdullahi also said the troops destroyed 10 illegal refineries around Bolo in Bonny local government area of Rivers.

    “This is in addition to 25 others earlier raided at Creek 6 and Ijokiri in the same local government area,’’ he added.

    NAN

     

  • Oil theft: JTF destroys 3 illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) said on Saturday in Yenagoa that it had destroyed three illegal oil distillation sites in Delta and Rivers.

    Spokesman of ODSafe, Maj. Abubakar Abdullahi confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “Troops of the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Delta successfully carried out a raid on two illegal refineries along LAPASE CREEK in Warri South of Delta State.

    “During the raid, 11 metal tanks, 5 dug pits with about 1750 Tons of suspected stolen crude oil and 170 Tons of illegally refined AGO were impounded.

    “Also troops of sector three also destroyed a large illegal refinery with multiple dumps at ALAKIRI in Rivers State.’’

    Abdullahi said when the oil thieves sighted the military troops that they set fire on parts of their bunkering camp to deny the force access to the illegal site.

    He said the troops eventually put off the fire and destroyed the illegal refining site.
    The spokesman said the operation was part of renewed efforts to protect the country’s oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

    He said the military had intensified its operation in the region to frustrate the activities of oil thieves and vandals, whom he described as economic saboteurs.

    According to him, JTF has, therefore, deployed Operation Delta Safe (ODS) to secure the area against illegal bunkering.

    He urged law abiding members of the public to support operational activities of ODS with valuable information that would lead to achieving the mandate for which it was set up and securing oil facilities.

    “We are here to protect oil and gas infrastructure, deter and prevent sea robbery, to stop crude oil theft and other crimes within the joint area of operation that could impact negatively on economic activities in the Niger Delta.”

  • Illegal refineries: Activists urge Fed Govt to investigate JTF

    Some Niger Delta activists have called on the Federal Government to investigate activities of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Delta Safe and the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS Delta), on claims of the discovery of over 40 illegal refineries in Jones Creeks, Warri South West Local Government.

    Some of the activists, who addressed reporters yesterday, decried the activities of illegal oil bunkers despite the heavy presence of security agents in the creeks.

    They stressed that those involved in the illicit business will not be successful if there was no connivance with the military.

    Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Sheriff Mulade, regretted that the illegal business was going on under the eyes of the JTF and other security agencies.

    According to him, the boats conveying the illegal products pass by the house boats of the security agents.

    Mulade said without involvement of some security agents, no illegal bunkering would thrive in the Niger Delta, adding that except the Federal Government investigates the security agencies; the war against illegal bunkering will fail.

    He noted that some of their members have become targets of the JTF for speaking up against the destruction of the ecosystem.

    President of the Ijaw People Development Initiative (IPDI) Austin Ozobo accused some security agents of connivance in the illegal act. According to him, the business has made many security agents wealthy.

    Ozobo urged the military to go after sponsors of the illegal business instead of going after their errand boys.

  • Navy intensifies fight against crude oil theft, illegal refineries

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, was  at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)  Pathfinder, Rumuorlumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on February 4 this year, where he briefed reporters on the successes recorded during the strategic Operation River Sweep 1.

    He disclosed that his command pioneered a new strategy of using swamp buggy to completely crush, mangle and bury the destroyed equipment of illegal refiners in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole revealed that illegal refineries worth N3 billion were destroyed in the Operation River Sweep 1.

    The FOC, who is also the Commander Task Group for Operation River Sweep 1, during the February 4 new declared that there was no going back in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal refiners in the Niger Delta, revealing that between N15 million and N25 million would be needed to set up illegal refineries in the creeks,  making crushing the illegal refineries the best decision of the Eastern Naval Command and that without site to refine the stolen crude oil, the illegal activities would become impossible.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole, who was accompanied at the  news conference by the Command Operations Officer of the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Razak Babalola, and the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Williams Kayoda, among other senior naval officers, assured that the navy would win the war against oil thieves and illegal refiners, which he said had just started.

    The Eastern Naval Command comprises Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, with Operation River Sweep 2 ongoing in Central Naval Command, which consists of Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States, while Operation River Sweep 3 will later hold in the Western Naval Command.

    Rear Admiral Oluwole also stated that with further support to the Nigerian Navy,  in terms of provision of additional appropriate assets, the service would even do more in protecting the economic lifeline of Nigeria.

    He noted that stopping the activities of illegal refineries required one to either block the siphoning source,  destroy their operation areas or markets for their products.

    The FOC said: “In the last 28 days, the participating units arrested three vessels engaged in various maritime crimes.  Two of these vessels: MV Lewis Ejiro and MV Lady Swithin, were arrested laden with illegally-refined AGO (diesel). 40 illegal refineries, 60 large wooden boats,  each with capacity for 33,000 litres, depending on size,  5,240,000 litres of illegally-refined AGO and four speed boats were destroyed. The total estimated loss for the destroyed illegal refineries is about N3 billion. Items recovered include 3 generators, 16 pumping machines, 2 welding machines, 3 outboard engines and 2 hoses. 5 suspected vandals were arrested.

    “The activities of oil thieves and sea robbers have been effectively checked. The well-planned and coordinated patrol activities have denied the criminals freedom of action within the Onne creeks and environs. The resultant effect is the drastic reduction in cases of sea robbery, pipeline vandalism and operation of illegal oil refineries.

    “Illegal bunkering activities have also been reduced to the barest minimum within the area of operation. The colossal losses of boats and the oil products in recent times are discouraging illegal bunkering in the affected areas.”

    Rear Admiral Oluwole also disclosed that the operation was successfully conducted between January 8 and February 4 this year,  with two ships in the Eastern Naval Command’s fleet: NNS Ologbo and NNS Burutu,  in addition to eight patrol boats from NNS Pathfinder and the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny,  as well as one naval helicopter (NN 231) from the Naval Flying Unit,  Port Harcourt.

    He accused most people of the communities in the Niger Delta of shielding the illegal refiners and other criminals, who he insisted were well known to the leaders/elders of the various communities, while declaring that naval personnel would continue to destroy, crush, mangle and bury the equipment of the illegal refineries, thereby running the criminals out of business.

    He said: “The successes were made possible through the use of a new strategy, initiated and employed by the Eastern Naval Command, for stopping proliferation of illegal refineries and other crimes in our maritime domain.

    “The Nigerian Navy, as a major stakeholder in the protection of the maritime environment, uprooted, destroyed and disposed all illegal-refinery equipment, in a manner that is consistent with global environment best practices.”

     

  • Navy destroys N3bn illegal refineries

    Navy destroys N3bn illegal refineries

    The Nigerian Navy has destroyed 40 illegal refineries, equipment and petroleum products valued at N3 billion in a special operation in the Niger Delta.
    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, disclosed this in Port-Harcourt yesterday at the conclusion of the first phase of “Operation River Sweep I.”
    According to him, “Operation Rivers Sweep was activated on January 8 to stem the tide of increasing and disturbing reports of illegal bunkering in Onne general area.
    “Over some months now, we have discovered that lots of illegal refineries are operating within the area with stealthily and specially designed dug-in canoes moving stolen petroleum products.
    “In the operation, two vessels MV Lewis Ejiro and MV Lady Swithin were impounded while 40 illegal refineries, 60 large wooden and speed boats loaded with 5.24 million litres of diesel were destroyed.
    “Other items recovered by troops included three generators, 16 pumping machines, two welding machines, three outboard engines and two hoses.
    “The total estimated loss for the destroyed illegal refineries and other equipment is about N3 billion”.
    Oluwole said that five suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operation and handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies.
    He said the operation was successful due to the use of Swamp Buggy machines, which completely crushed metallic tanks and denied oil thieves ability to revive the destroyed refineries.
    The FOC said the operation had reduced spate of attacks on oil and gas installations and sea piracy, particularly in the Onne and adjoining creeks in the area.
    “We have realised that whenever we burn down illegal refineries with metal tanks and some days after our troops leave the scene, the oil thieves would return and revive the refineries.
    “The use of swamp buggy machine has proved to be effective; and the colossal losses of boats and stolen oil products will discourage bunkering activities in our areas of operation.”
    Oluwole also said that the Navy’s inability to prosecute suspected oil thieves partly affected the war on illegal oil bunkering.
    According to him, the battle against oil thieves is built on a tripartite arrangement which involved surveillance, enforcement and operation.
    The FOC pointed out that similar operations were currently on-going in the Central Naval Command.

  • Five militant camps, four illegal refineries crippled as naval chief storms Niger Delta

    Five militant camps, four illegal refineries crippled as naval chief storms Niger Delta

    The activities of the rampaging youths at sea have constantly put the men of the Nigerian Navy on their toes. One key way the Navy has battled these youths who are oil thieves and bunkerers is the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) annual sea inspection  meant to test the capability of the command’s equipment and officers to combat sea criminals.

    The CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok Eteh Ibas, last weekend during the operation codenamed: “Exercise Eagle Eye”, sailed on NNS Centenary to 70 nautical miles away from the Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) jetty in Onne Rivers State, to Agbami Oil Field, operated by Chevron Nigeria Limited to see things for himself. The oil and gas platform is said to be one of the major strongholds of the nation’s economy.

    The sea inspection was flagged off by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin. The activities began December 1, in Delta State, where the first phase was launched to kick start the programme which lasted two days before the sea inspection was flagged off, Saturday and was brought to a close Monday.

    Gen.  Olonisakin lauded the efforts of the Navy to adequately secure the Nation’s waterways for national and economic development despite inadequate funding, and said the need for their encouragement for more effective presence at sea could not be over-emphasized.

    The activitiesof the participating formations at sea include, firing and Visit, Board, Search and Seize (VBSS); this was meant to demonstrate how men of the Nigerian Navy enforce the takeover of any vessel on sea when intelligence reveals it is conveying contraband goods.

    In his assessment of the trip, Vice Admiral Ibas expressed satisfaction on the naval equipment at sea and what he saw his officers do at sea, and promised to work on the weaknesses noticed, for better, more efficient and effective protection of Nigerian facilities off-shore.

    “This is going to be a continuous exercise. For the last 48 hours which you (the media) participated in, you have seen the need for the Navy to maintain presence at sea, you have seen the Nigerian critical oil and gas infrastructure(Agbami oil field), at sea which need to be protected. We have also used that opportunity of being at sea to evaluate the readiness of the various platforms that took part in the exercise that were conducted and different demonstrations.

    “We been able to note what short comings that we have, all these will be put together as we go back to the headquarters to ensure that they are corrected. Assessing the overall exercise, I can say we’ve been able to achieve the main objectives for which the exercise was put in place,” he said.

    Presenting the score card of his formation during the two-day shallow water raiding exercise, the Officer in Tactical Command/ Commander Task Group 16.3, (OTC/CTG 16.3), planning team, Rear Admiral Muhammad Garba, said five militant camps, four illegal refineries and five suspects were arrested and equipment, weapons recovered in Delta and Bonny in Rivers state.

    Garba gave the names of the suspects arrested in Bonny as Solomon (Bayelsa), Jordan Ade, Mark Sunday, Solomon Ichem (Rivers), and Bisong (Akwa Ibom).

    Two other suspects arrested on the cutting channels waterways while conveying two different badges suspected to containing stolen petroleum substance during the first phase of the exercise were also handed over to the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for further investigations and possible prosecution.

    The Navy reiterated the resolve of the CNS to stop all forms of criminal activities, especially oil theft and sea robbery/ piracy as well as hostage and ransom taking in the country’s waterways, and warned daring criminals to revisit their decisions and steer clear the Nigerian sea or face the wrath of the Navy and the law.

    Receiving the suspects on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, the Head, South-South zone, Ishaq Salihu assured that the operative would ensure that justice was done in the matter and fair hearing given to the suspects.

    Rear Admiral Garba said: “After mapping out the expected area of coverage by the OTC, Exercise Eagle Eye tactical team, we discovered that we will need to cover a sea area of 39,600 square nautical miles and a coast line of 220 nautical miles, extending seawalls to 180 nautical miles, within the targeted coordinates.

    “The mandate given was to conduct maritime operation in order to ensure a secure maritime environment, including preventing planned attack on Agbani Flushing Platform Storage Offloading (FPSO), NNHPs in the swamp area of the Niger Delta, Oil and Gas installations and infrastructures and against shipping, not later than December 5, 2016.”

    He continued:  “Five suspects were arrested and pumping machines recovered in Delta, seven boats destroyed and five militant camps were also raided. At FOB Bonny, four illegal refineries sited at Ijokiri, five boats laden with products suspected to be crude and another boat loaded with drums of illegal Diesel (A G O), 12 tanks loaded with illegal refined A G O and six tanks loaded with products suspected to be crude oil, three pumping machines and two Yamaha outboard engines were recovered, while five suspects were arrested.

    “Also within the first two days of the exercise, four suspected sea robbers were also arrested and weapon reportedly recovered from them, among several other achievements, which included raiding of more militant camps and destruction/impounding of boats, petroleum products suspected to be properties of the criminal suspects at FOB Bonny, Rivers state, while two Navy ships were on constant patrol on Brass Bayelsa and Rivers entrance to Agip facility in the period.”

    He expressed shock at the daring, unrelenting spirit of the militants noting that the kind of communication gargets found at the camp in Bonny could equal that of any military camp, but assured that the military is always steps ahead of them and their strategies.

    “Let me inform you also that the militant camp raided at FOB Omoso was almost like a military base; this is because the equipment found in there were things that can be used not only for tactical operation, but for operational reading; this is because the radio sets we recovered there were not just radio sets for listening they could also use it for transmitting,” Garba observed.

    The representative of the Nigerian Air Force in the Exercise Eagle Eye planning and execution, Comdr. S. Zakari, expressed satisfaction at the work of the Navy and confirmed that all programmes and activities carried out at sea were in accordance with the mapped out plans.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Hamma Misau, hailed the Navy for curbing criminal activities on the sea.

    He said: “I want to really appreciate the Nigerian Navy for this laudable initiative. The National assembly will continue to support the Nigerian Navy because we have seen what you are doing and we are proud of you.”

  • Navy destroys boats, illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    Navy destroys boats, illegal refineries in Niger Delta

    The Navy yesterday destroyed suspected illegal refineries and stolen crude oil products in Niger Delta.
    Its operatives attached to the Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Bonny were said to have raided Bolo and adjoining creeks, where they destroyed 12 illegal refinery sites and six Cotonou boats conveying suspected stolen crude oil.
    It was gathered that they also destroyed 20 tanks laden with suspected illegally refined AGO (diesel), three barges conveying suspected stolen crude oil, six crude oil laden tanks, a speedboat filled with AGO and uncovered 10 wells used for storing crude oil.
    Also, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder during a patrol around Wakama village in Onne destroyed a wooden boat laden with suspected illegally refined AGO.
    The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, said FOB Escravos raided an illegal refinery site at Tipo village in Warri, Delta State.
    He said: “During the raid, illegal refinery site and two large Cotonou boats laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 100 Jerry cans of illegally refined AGO were destroyed.
    “The Navy reiterates its strong resolve to continue the current clampdown, in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff’s zero tolerance for crude oil theft and other related crimes in the maritime domain.”

  • Troops dismantle militant camps in Bayelsa, Cross River

    Troops dismantle militant camps in Bayelsa, Cross River

    Troops of Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS), has dislodged unrepentant militants from their various camps in the creeks of Bayelsa and Cross River states.

    The troops, it was gathered, stormed many creeks in the Niger Delta region, destroying illegal refineries and clamping down on suspected oil thieves in a widened onslaught against oil-related crimes.

    The troops were said to have discovered and destroyed an active militant camp at the creeks of Isunkiri in Bayelsa.

    They reportedly recovered items such as two laptops, a hammer, Philippino currency note and coins, one plasma TV, one DVD player, saw blades,  four Motorola hand held radios, two R2 GMDS radios and four mobile phones.

    Others are five radio chargers, five motorola Radio batteries and one foreign ATM card, two sim cards, one civil helmet, pair of fire-fighting uniform, one GMI radio and documents/identity cards belonging to one Mr Roberto Bacariza Jr (Philippino).

    The troops also found civil clothes, four pairs of Swire pacific offshore overall uniform, two boxes of drugs, two foreign passports, one ladder, one blue colour speed boat mounted with 115 Horse power with inscription VIP on it and one 75 Horse power engine, light blue coloured fibre.

    The Media Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Lt. Col. Olaolu Dauda confirmed the development and said a similar raid took place at creeks in Cross River.

    He said following a tip-off, troops dismantled a militant camp at Harrison Kiri, Liberty, Evil forest, Virgin forest, Opuru fishing port, Wangwa fishing port and Zion city.

    “At Harrison camp, suspected militant fled on sighting troops. They are being trailed. Similarly, troops raided Bukuma Jetty and arrested three suspected militants and one Cotonou boat laden with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil”, he said.

    Dauda also confirmed that troops of ODS widened the scope of its war against oil theft and other criminal activities in all the states of the region.

    In Bayelsa, he said: “Troops on anti-illegal bunkering operations in Obi creek Epelepele Community of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State discovered and destroyed a bunkering camp.

    “Following a tip off, Mr Kelly Ikurusi, Mr Dokubo Erempagamo, Mr Orifie Borto and Mr George Friday AKA Yellow 1 were arrested.  Yellow 1 is said to be among the militants who attacked and killed own troops on 8 August 2016 at Nembe.  The four suspects are undergoing preliminary investigations.

    “Troops while on foot patrol discovered suspected criminal hideout around Biogbolo Secondary School in Yenagoa metropolis.

    “The area was cordoned and subsequently searched.  Troops also discovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) placed on a riser with the intention of blasting it. The IED was diffused as troops provided security.

    “Troops also discovered an illegal refinery site at Borokiri general area where bunkerers engage in massive loading of illegally refined AGO.  One container truck with registration number AWK 119 ZL loaded with 50 drums concealed behind bags of flours were impounded.

    “Toops while on anti-illegal bunkering operations at Adokeye Amah general area in Okrika discovered three illegal oil refining sites with 25 cooking pots and two large tank farms.

    “Items recovered include; three pumping machines and two welding machines. Also troops discovered reactivated illegal oil refineries which were destroyed”.

    Dauda disclosed that the Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE foiled a kidnap attempt by gunmen led by the suspected leader of a cult group popularly referred to as “Icelander” at Entebe community in Akwa Ibom State.

    He said the gunmen on sighting the Naval gunboats, fled the scene.

    He said: “It was also reported that sea robbers operating from Eastern Obolo attacked and kidnapped unspecified number of persons on a ship at sea.  Troops of NNS JUBILEE are on the trail of the kidnappers for possible rescue.

    “Also troops at FOB FORMOSO stationed at Nembe creek repelled saboteurs who tried to vandalize and steal a control unit from a Well Head 72 operated by AITED Company. Vandals abandoned their tools on sighting troops.

    “Operation Delta Safe will continue to ensure sanity of the Niger Delta Region as law abiding members of the public go about their legitimate daily businesses.

    “The Acting Commander Brigadier General Kevin Aligbe wishes to appreciate members of the public for their continuous cooperation, timely provision of information to troops and re-assure residents and oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region of their safety as they go about their legitimate businesses”.

  • NSCDC destroys 400 illegal mini refineries in Bayelsa

    NSCDC destroys 400 illegal mini refineries in Bayelsa

    The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Bayelsa says it has destroyed more than 400 illegal mini refineries operated by oil thieves in the state.

    The NSCDC Commandant, Mr Desmond Agu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the illegal refineries were destroyed between January and March.

    Agu said that the command now had a gunboat to fortify its operational capacity and had intensified patrols in the coastal settlements and waterways in the state.

    He said that the intensified patrols by the command had led to the arrest of ex-militant leader and his gang, whom he said, were being prosecuted.

    Agu said that the corps had deployed its personnel to provide security to critical national assets and oil facilities across the state.

    “We are on ground to ensure safety and protection of vital oil infrastructure and property within the command.

    “The command is determined to deal with the oil thieves and end their illegal businesses.

    “We have made some arrests concerning the recent cases of vandalism at Agip’s oil fields in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

    “The corps recovered the bodies of the three oil workers that died in the explosion in one of the fields on March 26. We have handed over the bodies to Agip.

    “The case has also been handed over to the Bayelsa State Police Command because it involves death and falls outside our mandate,” Agu said.

    Dr Peter Idabor, Director-General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), had earlier attributed the death of the oil workers to poor safety procedures at the oil field.

    Meanwhile, officials of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Bayelsa and its parent company, Eni, have declined comment on the Easter Sunday’s explosion.

    Mr Fillippo Cotalini, Media Relations Manager, Eni, has yet to respond to the request sent to him through e-mail for a reaction on the explosion.