…As Army destroys 46 oil bunker sites in Niger Delta***

In a determined bid to consolidate on recorded successes of “Operation Rivers Sweep”, the Nigerian Navy Central Naval Command on Wednesday launched the Phase Two of it’s “Octopus Grip Exercise” at the Warri Naval base.

Rear Adm. Bello Al-Hassan,Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, performed the flag-off, stressing that the exercise was to further combat criminalities in the nation’s maritime domain.

Al-Hassan who gave a glowing picture of “Operation Rivers Sweep” exercise which was launched in January by the Command, said the phase 2 was just what he needed to proactively position his officers for any untoward challenges in the areas.

He highlighted that 11 gunboats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA had been deployed for the operation, adding that the exercise would be going on simultaneously in other Commands.

“We started the first phase of the Octopus Grip which is “sea exercise” on Oct. 30 in Onne, we are here to kick-start the phase two which is “riverine operation” in Warri.

“Eleven gunboats from the NNS DELTA will be used for the exercise and it will be going on simultaneously in other Commands of the Nigerian Navy,” he said.

The FOC said shortly after the flag-off, the navy proceeded to an illegal refinery camp covering about 30 hectares in Bennett Island in Warri South to destroy some illegal refineries.

“We have used Swamp boogies to destroy their equipment about two weeks ago and they came back again, we are going to sustain this operation and continue to use Swamp boogies because it is environmentally friendly,” he said.

He disclosed that the Command had identified about 200 illegal camps with a lot of illegal refineries, adding that the exercise would help to further rid the creeks of crude oil theft.

Al-Hassan appealed to the perpetrators to indulge in legal businesses noting that their action was counter-productive  to the economy and the ecosystem.

“It is going to take a long time for the environment to be useful for meaningful farming; and again, it is also creating a lot of problem to the government in terms of stealing of crude oil,” he said.

The FOC, however, said that constant use of Swamp boogies and the introduction of Modular refineries later would help to nip the menace in the bud.

One helicopter was also displayed alongside the 11 gunboats at the Bennett Island.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said it has destroyed 46 illegal bunker sites in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers at the just-concluded Exercise Crocodile Smile II.

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, Spokesman of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, said in a statement that several wooden boats and barges loaded with huge quantity of crude oil were seized.

Iliyasu said that several suspects were arrested and handed over to relevant security agencies for possible prosecution.

“Troops also destroyed illegal oil dump sites; seized vehicles transporting illegal products and arrested perpetrators of the illegal activities.

“A total of 13 cases were recorded across 6 Division’s Area of Responsibility, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered in our anti-cultism operations.

“Also, our reinvigorated Anti-Kidnapping Squad busted nine kidnap syndicates who provided useful information about criminals’ hideouts, their mode of operation and sources of weapons,” he said.

The spokesman attributed the success of exercise to cooperation and support of residents in the three states.

He said troops had also carried out free medical and education outreaches in communities in Rivers and Bayelsa.