Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyesigha (left), inaugurating executive members of Governor Dickson Support Movement (Dsm) in Yenagoa on Wednesday

The Nigerian Navy Ship
(NNS), Delta State, has said  that it destroyed 19 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region in the last five weeks.
The Commander of the ship, Commodore Aliyu Sule, told newsmen in Warri, Delta that more than 2,000 metric tons of stolen crude and illegally refined diesel were destroyed during the period.
He said the navy destroyed the products in multiple operations in the creeks of Warri South and Warri South-West local government areas.
He said the Navy also apprehended four suspected marketers of illegally refined diesel and other petroleum-related products.
According to Sule, the suspects were caught in possession of 33 drums and 254 cans filled with petroleum products in Milan waterside, beside old Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Warri.
The commander attributed the feats to the improved surveillance and useful intelligence gathering by the personnel.
“Intelligence gathering is vital in winning the war against oil theft,’’ he said.
Sule, who assumed leadership of the command in April, said he understudied the terrains in his area of responsibility and promptly marshaled an action plan to curb the excesses of the criminals.
Sule said the determination by the navy to combat illegal oil deals was in line with the chief of naval staff ‘s zero tolerance to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other illegalities.
According to sources, on June 16, naval personnel stormed the Oteghele forest in Warri South-West and destroyed seven illegal refineries and more than 500 metric tons of crude and other refined products.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the exercise, Sule said the maiden operation was a warning to the perpetrators to prepare for the worst.
The navy also raided the Egbokodo forest in Warri South on July 23 and destroyed two illegal refineries and a Cotonou-bound boat laden with products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Sule said the naval team also stormed Kantu forest in Warri South-West and destroyed 10 illegal refineries and unspecified quantity of crude and other refined products.
He also listed items burnt in the operation to include two pumping machines, 20 metallic and plastic drums filled with suspected refined diesel and other products.
Also razed were five makeshift tents where assorted foodstuffs like rice, beans, gari, condiments, wears and bags of detergents were stored.
Sule said that since those behind the sabotage had resolved not to desist from the nefarious trade, the navy had also intensified its surveillance network on the waterways.
“We over flew the Egbokodo forest on June 30 with the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe, and discovered two illegal refineries.
“In Kantu forest, I understand the place is a complex, what we destroyed now is just a tip of the iceberg. We are going back in the nearest future to destroy more,’’ he said.
Sule, who decried the ecological effect of oil theft, said destruction of the illegal products was part of their regulations.