The Nigerian Naval Headquarters has refuted a news report published on Tuesday 26 July 2016 by an online medium named vaxity.com, with the title “Chief of the Naval Staff faces sack for rejecting illegal recruitment list from Mamman Daura”.

A statement released by Cor Ezekobe, a Navy Commodore and Director of Information in the Naval Headquarters said that the report was one of the many attempts to disparage and scandalize the current efforts of the Federal Government to eliminate all forms of corrupt tendencies in our national life.

“The Naval Headquarters therefore wishes to reiterate that the news report is false, mischievous, malicious and is intended by its sponsors to create disaffection among the citizens as regards the conduct of the Nigerian Navy Recruitment Exercise.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to disregard this report,” the statement read.

Ezekobe also talked about the ongoing anti-crude oil theft operations of the Navy in the Niger Delta, saying the exercise has been yielding positive results.

He stated that a “patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA, naval base in Warri raided an illegal refinery at Asiagbene community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. Four large GP tanks laden with about 10,000 liters each of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO was destroyed.

“Also the patrol team on 21 July 2016 located and destroyed 2 illegal refineries with 3 Cotonou boats containing approximately 350MT of illegally refined AGO at Asosolo and Ugbosede in Warri South West LGA.

“During the raid, 2 persons were arrested while the following items were recovered; 5 speed boats, 20 drums of illegally refined AGO, 5 drums of illegally refined DPK, 1 pumping machine, 1 generator and 1 x 90HP outboard engine. The suspects are undergoing further investigation.”

The Navy spokesman further stated that another “patrol team deployed by NNS PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has raided and destroyed 2 active illegal refinery sites around Ogu Bolo in Rivers State. During the raid, 6 Storage tanks each  containing 60,000 liters of suspected stolen crude and 2 speed boats     carrying 15 drums each of illegally refined AGO were destroyed. The patrol team also destroyed a barge laden with about 120,000 liters of suspected illegally refined AGO.”

Ezekobe called for more synergy between the various security agencies that police the numerous waterways across the country in order to ensure better protection of life and property within the hinterlands.