The Nigerian Navy, on Monday, paraded 11 arrested suspects with suspected items used in legal refinery construction at Billie in Degema local government area of Rivers State.
The suspects were handed over to the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Handing over the suspects to the officials of NSCDC, the Commander NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, Navy Commodore Desmond Igbo, who was represented by the Base Operation Officer, Commander Sa’id Mohammed Kabir, said its Base Tactical Response and Assault Squadron on 23 Jan 24, 2023, while on routine patrol around Krakrama Creeks, intercepted a boat with 11 crew members.
Commodore Igbo said the crew members were laden with 10 metal plates, 14 angle iron as well as 20 gas cylinders suspected to be items used in illegal refinery construction.
He said that the items were carefully concealed in a wooden boat and were headed to a construction site where the suspected materials were to be used for the construction of illegal refinery sites in the creeks.
He said further findings revealed that the suspects were conveying the items to Bille general area for the construction of an illegal refining site.
He said: “Additional investigation revealed that the arrested suspects are workers used for the construction of the illegal refining site.
“The arrested suspects claimed they were contracted by one Mr John. At the moment, the Base is making concerted efforts to arrest Mr John and other suspects involved in this criminal act”
Receiving the suspects, the NSCDC intelligence and investigative officer, Deputy Superintendent Lawan Monday said that the suspects will be prosecuted if found wanting after their investigations.
