Navy Destroys About 100 Illegal Refineries In Bayelsa

 

The outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Ogabu Suleiman, has said that within seven months, the command destroyed 100 illegal refineries; arrested many suspected oil thieves and impounded ships and other vessels used by vandals.

Rear Admiral Suleiman, who was speaking in Yenagoa over the weekend before handing over the command to FOC, Rear Admiral Tarioworio Dick, the first indigene of the area to head the office, said he engaged illegal refiners and other maritime criminals in battles and made the crimes unappealing.

Stating that crime does not pay, he advised pirates and oil thieves to desist from the crimes, because the command will sanction offenders severely in accordance with the extant rules and regulations in order to curb maritime crimes.

During his seven month tenure at the command, Suleiman commissioned five projects he initiated and executed including an expansive swimming pool to keep the naval officers familiar and abreast of their natural environment, and establish a magazine titled: ‘Central Searchlight’, a publication of the Chief of Naval Staff.

In recognition of his excellent performance, the Community Media Network (CMN), led by Delight Ozoegbe presented an award to the FOC, and commended him for reducing maritime crimes especially in the state.

The new FOC Tariworio Dick in his remarks, however, appealed to the communities to cooperate with the Navy by volunteering information on those committing illegal activities, because the criminals do not mean well for the community and nation.

“I am disturbed by the actions of crude oil thrives because they dig the ground and use it as a storage facility. It damages the environment to the extent that our own children may not recover from what they have done.

“They are not friends and so there should be the whole community approach towards tackling crude oil theft, sea robbery and piracy, social commitment and responsibility, in the earnest efforts to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region,” he said.