Navy rescues 11 passengers from sinking boat, knocks out illegal refineries

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Navy has listed rescue of 11 passengers from a sinking speedboat and deactivation of several illegal refining sites in Rivers and Delta as part of recent achievements of personnel.

The rescue operation was carried out on Tuesday by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, along the Bonny River in renewed efforts to ensure safety and curb crude oil theft in the nation’s waterways Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said in a statement.

According to him, the boat, which departed Nembe Waterside Jetty in Port Harcourt for Coal Beach Jetty in Bonny Island, developed engine failure midstream and began taking in water near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Rivers State.

He said the swift response of the naval patrol team under heavy rainfall prevented a major tragedy as all 11 passengers comprising six males and five females, were safely evacuated and taken to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Jetty for medical checks.

“The rescued passengers were later handed over to the Marine Police for onward reunification with their families,” he said.

The naval spokesman said the navy, in another Operation on Wednesday, intensified crackdown on crude oil theft with the deactivation of multiple illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta.

He said personnel of FOB Escravos dismantled two sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta.

“Similarly, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team uncovered and deactivated another site with cooking ovens, reservoirs, sacks, jerrycans, and dugout pits filled with stolen crude and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil around Bakana and Isaka areas of Rivers.

“Also, personnel of FOB Bonny dismantled a refining site at Eyamba Community in Bonny Local Government Area, while NNS DELTA patrol team deactivated another at Opumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta,” he added.

Adams-Aliu said the operations reflect the navy’s renewed commitment under the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to ensure maritime safety, protect national assets, and promote lawful economic activities.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy would sustain the momentum in its fight against crude oil theft and all forms of illegality within the nation’s maritime domain. (NAN)