Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has arrested an oil vessel with the name MV Ofuoma and the 10 crew members onboard for conveying an alleged illegally refined petroleum product in Rivers.
The OPDS Commander, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, who was represented by
Component Commander OPDS, Commodore John Siyanbade, said that MV Ofuoma was arrested at Abuloma jetty in Port-Harcourt by the Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder.
According to him, the vessel was being used as a storage facility for illegally refined petroleum products.
In his own words, “the vessel was receiving product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), which is also known as diesel, from a dug-out wooden boat alongside it.
“As it was intercepted by OPDS, about 20,000 litres of the product has already been transferred from the dug-out boat to the vessel. Currently, we have about 35,000 litres still remaining on board. The operation was conducted by troops of the JTF Operation Delta Safe Headquarters.”
The Commander expressed that the 10 suspects that were intercepted included both the crew on board the vessel and those on the boat, adding that the suspects have given credible information about where they source the product from and operation iongoingng to deactivate the illegal refining site in the area.
He further assured that OPDS would not relent in its efforts to eliminate crude oil theft and other forms of illegality in the region, warning that those involved should for legitimate means of livelihood before they are caught.
