At the Abuloma jetty in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Nigerian Navy on Wednesday set a second vessel on fire that was allegedly being used for smuggling oil illegally.
The MV OFUOMA and a wooden boat used to transport the product into the vessel were both taken by the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe. The MV OFUOMA was carrying roughly 20,000 illegally processed products.
Before being sunk, the ship and wooden boat were pushed deep into the ocean to a safe spot.
Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, commander of Joint Task Force South-South and Operation Delta Safe, said the product was set ablaze after it was tested and found to be illegally refined by the Nigerian Mainstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
He went on to state that the destruction witnessed is part of the plans to eradicate the reign of crude oil theft, vandalism, and other criminality.
“In line with the mandate of Joint Task Joint South-south Operation Delta Safe, the Joint Force is determined to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the fight against crude oil theft, vandalism and other criminality in Niger Delta Region.
“This can be attested to with the numerous achievements that have been recorded in the cause of our operations.
“Recall that on August 15, 2023, troops intercepted a vessel MV CECELIA in Port Harcourt, which was used as a storage and dispensing unit for illegally refined product.
“The vessel was later handled after thorough investigation and confirmation that the product was illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel).”