Nigerian Navy has sealed a tank farm suspected to be storing illegally-refined diesel in Calabar.
The tank farm was uncovered following intelligence report from military’s joint taskforce in the South-South – “Operation Delta Safe’’.
Commander of Nigeria Navy Ship Victory, Commodore Rotimi Oderemi stated this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar.
He noted that after sealing the tank farm, samples of the suspected illegally-refined diesel were taken to a laboratory for analysis.
Oderemi disclosed that investigation is ongoing, advising business and tank farm owners to operate within the confines of the law by obtaining necessary approvals for their operations.
He added: "On February 24, a joint operation by the Nigerian and Cameroonian Navies led to the interception of a vessel laden with 30,000 litres of crude oil suspected to have been stolen from Nigeria.
The commander had informed newsmen during the inspection of the vessel at Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom that the vessel, MV Jasmine, was intercepted by a Nigerian Navy patrol boat, NNS Ekulu.
“Upon noticing NNS Ekulu, the suspected vessel proceeded to the international waters between Nigeria and Cameroon, just as NNS Ekulu was in its hot pursuit.
“Resulting from our collaboration and with the support of the Cameroonian Navy, the vessel was intercepted and brought to Ibaka with eight Nigerians on board,’’ he said.
Oderemi confirmed that Captain of the intercepted vessel, Mr Pere-Ebiye Abraham claimed ownership of the product, saying that he ventured into illegal bunkering due to hardship.
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