The Nigerian Navy says it has intensified the clampdown on crude oil thieves, illegal refineries and other related crimes in the maritime areas.

Director of Naval Information, Cor Ezekobe, said this in a press release issued on Thursday in Abuja, adding that vigilant Naval personnel also discovered 47 stowaways who had attempted to leave the country illegally on board some merchant vessels.

He also stated that a naval patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA arrested the Captain of a merchant Vessel, one Solomon Perebo, for his alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism.

He added that 23 illegal refinery sites were raided by various Naval patrol teams “mainly in Obodo, Ajosolo, Isaba and Olakpashe creeks in Warri South West LGA of Delta State.”

“During the raid, about 396 Metric-Tons (MT) of suspected illegally refined AGO and about 1,060MT of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed, 3 suspects linked to the sites were also apprehended,” he added.

Ezekobe further stated that patrol team deployed by NNS JUBILEE in conjunction with other security agencies “raided an illegal refinery site at Ibeno community in Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom State” where “2 cotonou boats, and 6 drums containing suspected illegally refined AGO” were destroyed.

The Navy spokesman also disclosed that “operatives of NNS PATHFINDER intercepted a wooden barge conveying about 110MT of suspected illegally refined AGO around the Federal Ocean Terminal/Federal Lighter Terminal (FOT/FLT) anchorage in Onne Rivers State.”

“This feat is sequel to the interception of another barge laden with about 50MT of suspected illegally refined AGO around Ikpokiri in Onne Rivers State,” he said.

According to Ezekobe, the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Ibok-Ete Ibas commended the efforts of the Naval personnel in driving the process of clearing illegal refinery sites and mitigating other security threats in the maritime areas.

The CNS urged Captains of merchant vessels and all seafarers to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement around their vessels in order to prevent illegal migration out of the country by desperate stowaways as well as to enhance the security of their vessels.