Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, has stated that his men are poised to rid his area of responsibility in Delta State of all forms of criminalities and illegalities.
This is just as the force had, in the last two weeks, arrested four suspects and destroyed over five large illegal refineries and products during routine raids of creeks in Warri South and Warri South West local government areas of the state.
Commodore Dzunve made the disclosure after the destruction of illegal refineries and arrest of two suspects, around Sosolo in Ugotan area of Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state last Thursday.
On sighting his men, the Commander said perpetrators of the crime fled into the woods leaving behind their boats, kegs, generators and other items used in carrying out their nefarious activities.
No fewer than five flying boats, loaded with locally-refined diesel, were apprehended and towed to the jetty at the Naval Base for further investigation.
The naval boss vowed to go after buyers of the products sourced from illegal refineries, saying profits accruable from the trade was the reason the illicit trade had continued to thrive in spite of continued effort being made to stamp out the menace.
“Raid on illegal refineries is an ongoing thing. Within the last two weeks, we’ve burnt over five illegal refineries.
“Our strategy is effective, but we noticed that some of the illegal refineries were burnt in the past, but were reactivated.
“This is because the underground tanks are seemingly indestructible. So, they could still use them.
“And even after burning the product, the hoses are still there and they come back to commence work again,” the naval boss lamented.
Commodore Dzunve, who resumed as commander of NNS DELTA just recently, described the terrain and lack of adequate equipment as major challenges facing the force in tackling the menace headlong.
Commodore Dzunve admonished youths in the Niger Delta region to embrace hard work, peace as well as seek legitimate alternatives of likelihoods instead of engaging in economic sabotage and criminalities.