The Nigerian Navy said yesterday that it has deployed troops to Rivers on a special operation code-named, Operation Rivers Sweep.
Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. James Oluwole disclosed this to newsmen on the sideline of inauguration of accommodation quarters for troops in Port Harcourt.
He said the deployment which began on January 7 aimed to tackle rising activities of illegal bunkers at Onne local government area of the state.
He said, “Operation Rivers Sweep was activated on Jan. 7 with objective to stem the tide on 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. The supply chain starts from the illegal refineries which transport the illegally produced crude oil from dug-in canoes to bigger vessels that moves the product outside Nigeria by sea. Operation Rivers Sweep, thus, is focused on having a coordinated and well planned operation different from the routine patrols ongoing at our operational bases level.”
Oluwole said the ongoing operation would discover and destroy illegal refineries and other maritime crimes in Onne and environs, and that the Navy’s inability to prosecute suspected oil thieves partly affected the war on illegal oil bunkering.
He said the battle against oil thieves was built on a tripartite arrangement which involved surveillance, enforcement and operation.
“However, enforcement does not reside with the navy because there are agencies that area statutorily empowered to do that. We have done our job when we hand over investigation to agencies saddled with the responsibility to prosecute suspects,” he stated.