The Nigerian Navy NNS Pathfinder in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has warned those involved in illegal artisanal refinery business to stay off oil facilities in Rivers State.
The warning was coming on the heels of the recent destruction of ovens used in cooking crude oil and illegal artisanal refinery dump sites in Abonnema by the Nigerian Navy NNS Pathfinder in Akuku toru Local Government Area of the state.
The Base Operation Officer of the Nigerian Navy, NNS Pathfinder in the state, Commander Umaru Abubarkar Sidi, who gave the warning shortly after conducting reporters round the destroyed illegal oil dump sites in Abonnema, said the command was poised and determined to flush out illegal oil bunkers in his area of operation.
Sidi said the command in collaboration with civilian authority and other security agencies raided several dump sites where illegal artisanal refinery activities were taking place and destroyed several ovens, pipes and storages facilities used in storing illegal petroleum products.
He also said that some wooden boats and barges used in transporting illegal refined petroleum products were impounded during the operation.
