-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) -From Ambrose OLOGIDE/Warri:

The Flag Officer Commanding ( FOC ) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Garba, has warned operators of illegal refineries to desist from the criminal act or face severe punishments.

Rear Admiral Garba handed down the warning, shortly after the destruction of some illegal refineries in some parts of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State and the Benin River Basin by the Nigerian Navy, on Tuesday March 9, 2021.

While noting that the illicit act was adversely affecting the national economy, he advised the operators to take to some other legitimate businesses towards the development of the area and boosting the national economy.

The exercise, code named, “Operation Ame Jiji”, also known as, “Cold Water”, was led by the FOC Rear Admiral Garba and the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Delta, Commodore Samiu Adepegha.

The areas where the destruction of illegal refineries took place included Madagho, Abiteye Egwa 1 & 11, all in Warri South West Local Government Area and in the Benin River Basin.

Rear Admiral Garba explained that the destruction of the illegal refineries was in line with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, to rid Nigeria’s water ways of criminal activities, adding that more than 2 million litres of illegal refined petroleum products were destroyed in the operation, while some suspects were also arrested.

• Courtesy: Delta State Ministry of Information