Metro

Navy Arrests 14 Suspects, Uncovers Illegal Refinery In Rivers

Published

4 months ago

April 4, 2024

The Nigerian Navy said its men have arrested 14 persons for their alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering in the Elem Krakama community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Also, the Navy said an illegal oil refining site with a capacity to produce over 9.6 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil popularity called diesel per day was uncovered.

The Navy added that in an operation led by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, on Thursday, three wooden boats with a storage capacity of 70 metric tons was seized.

Igbo told journalists that the suspects were siphoning crude from a tapped oil wellhead from the Oil Mining Lease (OML-18) operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited in the area.

He said the wellhead was badly compromised by the suspected oil thieves.

Igbo, who expressed shock at the wide-scale economic sabotage going on in the location, noted that the site has 16 cooking pots with the capacity to contain 6,000 litres of diesel each while maintaining that the Navy will not relent in ensuring that illegal oil refining activities become a thing of the past.

He stated, “This is Elem Krakama in Degema LGA of Rivers State. We have come here to ensure that this oil stealing will not continue.

“We have about 16 cooking pots and some of them contain about 6,00 litres. It is very huge, as you can see where they are tapping it from right from the oil wellhead.

“It comes out the way water comes from the tap. We have made arrests, we arrested about 14 of them in the act of stealing the crude and also illegally refining this crude.

“Behind me is oil well head 15 belonging to OML 18, of NNPCL. You can see a very big 14-inch hose connected illegally to this oil well head 15.

“They are transferring it to this big wooden boat also known as the Cotonou boat.

“The boats contain 70 metric tons of crude oil, the crude is still there they will connect it to the reservoirs through the 4-inch hose from there they will start cooking it.”

Continuing, the NHS Pathfinder boss said, “We have four of these wooden boats in this camp. The cooking pots also contain about 1.5 million AGO. This is not good for our country not good for the economy.”

Related Topics:illegal refineries Rivers

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Metro

Policeman Shot, Three Arrested Over Land Dispute In Delta

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Police operatives from the Okpanam Division, in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have arrested three police officers who allegedly encroached and supervised the destruction of the properties in the community.

It was gathered that the property belonged to Ogbeozoma tenants in the land area in a dispute between the Ogbeozoma quarters of Okpanam and Akpoma quarters Issele-Azagba in Aniocha North Local Government Area.

A source, who spoke to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press, disclosed that when the people of Ogbeozoma received information that some people were destroying their properties, they mobilised to the site.

He said, “On arrival, they were confronted by the officers, as other people who came with them for the operation, took to their heels.

“In the process, one of the police officers the Ogbeozoma people brought, identified as Inspector Sanni Taiwo, was shot and was rushed to the hospital where he was receiving treatment.

“The arrested officers claimed they were attached to the CTU Base 44, Force Headquarters, Abuja, while the driver of one of the payloaders was also arrested.

“They were sent by a popular hotelier from the South-East origin but based in Asaba.”

As of the time of filing this report, the three officers and the payloader driver had been transferred to the police command headquarters, while the two Hilux vehicles and two payloaders recovered from the site were parked on the premises of Okpanam Police Division.

Items recovered from the suspects, according to our source, included two guns and some live cartridges.

When contacted on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abaniwanda Olufemi, told PUNCH Metro that he was in Abuja for the IG meeting and was yet to be briefed.

Metro

JUST IN: 8 Children Rescued From Accident In Kogi

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Eight school children have survived a motor accident in Lokoja the Kogi State capital.

An Eyewitness account told DAILY POST that the children are pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School Lokoja.

DAILY POST gathered that the children were returning from school when the sad incident occurred on Thursday at the popular Lokongoma market in Lokoja.

It was further gathered that a heavy-duty truck carrying a container load fell on two small vehicles which trapped the Children.

Through the combined effort of the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies, the children were rescued.

The Kogi State Security Adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara Rtd. who was on ground to ensure the rescue of the school children confirmed this to newsmen on Thursday.

As of 5:17PM, efforts are still in place to ensure that the truck is evacuated from the road to ensure free flow of traffic.

Metro

Church Members Protest, Disown Faction Promoting LGBTQ Rights

Published

2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of members of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Gombe State have protested against a factional group accused of promoting LGBTQ rights and regionalization.

The members made the bold stance against the recognition of LGBTQ rights during a protest that took place at the Northern and Central Nigeria Annual Conferences in Gondum village, Shongom local government area of Gombe State.

Protesters, carrying placards rejecting LGBTQ and regionalization, stated their commitment to a unified church and their opposition to what they deem as “unholy acts.”

Yohana Wesley, Resident Bishop of the Nigeria UMC, stated that the factional group’s refusal to adhere to established procedures led to the decision to disown them.

Chipau Kiliyobas, Director of Connectional Ministry of Northern Nigeria UMC Annual Conference, noted that the disagreement over regionalization and LGBTQ issues was the root of the contention between the two groups.

Bishop John Schol, representing the Council of Bishops from the United States, attempted to reconcile the factions and unify all church members.

However, his remarks were met with resistance from the protesters.

Schol clarified that regional decisions on same-sex marriage would be respected, with no imposition from the global church, but the protesters remained steadfast in their opposition to LGBTQ recognition.

The traditional and majority group in the church deem LGBTQ acts as unholy, and their protest stated their strong stance against any recognition of such rights within the church community.