The Nigerian Navy uncovers a newly suspected oil syndicate on Oil Mining, Lease-18 in Elem Krakama Creek in the Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Navy in their report dismantled the full equipment used in stealing the crude oil.
The discovery led to the dismantling of the multiple pipelines buried underground. Four suspects engaging in the illegal bunkering were also arrested
The Commander, The Nigeria Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Suleiman Ibrahim while addressing newsmen said,
“We came here with members of the NNPC OML 18 Resources, they are the owners of the well. We came with our heavy equipment to make sure we dismantle the illegal structures that are being used to siphon crude illegally.
“A lot of pipes have been recovered from the wellhead and we have disconnected where they are being connected to. As an individual, what I have seen here is way beyond what I have seen elsewhere. The level of sophistication is beyond our imagination. The individuals involved had taken their time and done a lot of measurements and did welding on-site.”
Meanwhile, the Navy have apprehended four suspects in connection with oil bunkering.
The Navy commander said the four suspects reside in Borikiri in Port Harcourt, but hail from Southern Ijaw axis of Bayelsa State. When interrogated further, the suspects confessed that they were paid N20,000 to transport diesel from the creek to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
He stated that the four suspects would be handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution.
