By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny Rivers State have forestalled efforts of suspected oil thieves to establish new illegal refining infrastructure within the Bonny axis of the state.
The operation was initiated after intelligence reports detected suspicious activities around an area described as the PROMISE LAND within the Bonny local government area.
The Anti-Crude oil theft patrol team of the Nigerian Navy carried out proactive mission across adjoining creeks and waterways to verify the threat, as well as the use of aerial surveillance to expose concealed refining equipment hidden beneath thick vegetation within the area.
Two newly constructed illegal refining sites, located close to the river channel, which contains cooking installations, interconnected pipes, and support infrastructure prepared for moving petroleum products, were discovered during the operation, which lasted several hours.
The dismantling of the sites, according to the Navy, is in line with operational procedures, while the location has been placed under continued monitoring for follow-up assessment and surveillance.
