Navy Raids Ogbe-Ijoh Community, Destroys Illegal Refinery

No payment by candidates for 2016 recruitment exercise
Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The Nigerian Navy in its ongoing effort to maintain and sustain security in the nation’s maritime area, has raided Ogbe-Ijoh community in Delta State and arrested some vandals while also destroying illegal refinery.

The Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, stated this yesterday, saying that the Navy also recovered suspected vessels from the pirates.

“The Nigerian Navy has not rested on its oars. More pipeline vandals have been arrested, Nigerian Navy also have recovered suspected pirates vessel four months after pirates hijacked an oil tanker, MT Maximus, the navy has recovered the pirate vessel MT Dejikun used by suspected pirates,” Ezekobe said.

In another development, he said NNS DELTA carried out a raid within its area of responsibility.
He noted that “In the raid, which was carried out at Ogbe-Igoh community in Warri, Delta State, the Nigerian Navy team destroyed an illegal refinery site and one Cotonou boat containing about 50MT of stolen crude oil and 6 X 15, metal tanks containing illegal refined diesel.”

He however, remarked that “no suspect was apprehended as they fled the site before the arrival of the Nigerian Navy patrol team.”

In another development, Ezekobe denied the claims that candidates made payments for the ongoing 2016 recruitment exercise.
“The attention of the Nigerian Navy has been drawn to reports (not media report) which suggest that syndicates purportedly operating in the name of Nigerian Navy are defrauding prospective candidates by directing them to pay forty thousand naira (N40,000) for placement in the 2016 recruitment exercise,” he stated.

The naval spokesman said the reports available to the service suggest that the criminal elements are operating in various locations across the country.
In view of the above, he said, parents, guardians and candidates have sought confirmation from the Nigerian Navy on this disturbing criminal extortion by the syndicates.

Ezekobe said: “After a thorough investigation, the Nigerian Navy is requesting parents, guardians, candidates and the public to avoid being defrauded as nobody has been mandated, directed or authorised to collect money from any candidate in the course of the 2016 recruitment exercise.”
He stated the position of the Nigerian Navy, as directed by the federal government, that participation in the recruitment exercise remains free.

According to the DINFO, “no candidate is expected to make any form of payment for placement in the Nigerian Navy.”
However, he said the list of successful candidates which is being compiled, would soon be released to the general public through appropriate channels of communication.