According to the Nigerian Navy, eight suspected crude oil thieves have been apprehended, and illicit refineries have been demolished, marking major victories for the troops of Operation DELTA SANITY in the fight against marine crimes and crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Three wooden boats and one speed boat loaded with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized around Brass River, Nembe, Botokiri community in Bayelsa State on September 4, 2024, according to a press release from Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, Naval Headquarters.
The statement stated that on September 5, 2024, in the vicinity of Bonny Channel, Sobikiri, Adamakiri, Eferwarie, and the Isaka general area of Rivers State, two illicit refinery sites, two ovens, two reservoirs, one dugout pit, and two wooden boats loaded with goods thought to be stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized.
It continued, “On September 9, 2024, at Okporoza Creek and Tibo community, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, two active illegal refining sites were destroyed and seized with one wooden boat, two ovens, three dugout pits, and four drums laden with stolen crude oil.”
“At Odo-Bioku in the Awoye Riverine community in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on September 10, 2024, a recently built illicit refinery site, one reservoir, and one dugout pit filled with stolen crude oil were burned and seized.”
“On September 12, 2024, two suspected sea robbers were apprehended in their camp in the Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, in the Effiat community.”
Around Billie in Degema, Abua-Fekoru community, Borokiri, and in Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, two illicit refining sites, eight reservoirs, two dugout pits, and eleven ovens filled with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed and seized on September 13, 2024.
“On September 14, 2024, around Igbigiba, Akasa, Ogboinbiri, as well as Kasama-Azama and Isonogbene general areas of Southern Ijaw in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, one suspect, four illegal refining sites with two ovens, seven reservoirs, one dugout pit, thirteen wooden boats, one fiber boat, and forty-eight sacks laden with refined Automated Gas Oil were arrested and seized.”
In the Bayelsa State communities of Brass River, Nembe, and Odioma, twelve sacks containing stolen crude oil were found on September 15, 2024, together with one wooden boat and one fiber boat.
Around Asaramatoro in Rivers State, on September 17, 2024, a single, sizable wooden boat filled with pilfered crude oil was found.
“In the vicinity of Akasa, Gbaran-Azagbene in Bayelsa State, on September 19, 2024, four illicit refining sites and two reservoirs filled with illicitly refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed.”
“On September 21, 2024, in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, around Fishtown, Sangana River, and Igbematoro, one illegal refining site, one oven, and one dugout pit filled with stolen crude oil were destroyed.”
In the Bayelsa State communities of Brass River, Nembe, and Ogbolomabiri, “one illegal refining site, one oven, three dugout pits, two reservoirs, and one wooden boat loaded with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized on September 21, 2024.”
In the vicinity of La Campagne Tropicana Beach in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, on September 22, 2024, five individuals were taken into custody with a wooden boat loaded with pilfered crude oil.
“A vehicle carrying fifty sacks of illicitly refined Automatic Gas Oil was intercepted on September 23, 2024, at the Okolomadi community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, an illicit refining site containing four reservoirs filled with crude oil was destroyed.”
In total, Commodore Aliyu reported that eight suspects, 19 illicit refining facilities, 25 wooden boats, 138 bags filled with stolen crude oil, 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, 12 dugout pits, four drums, and three fiber boats were apprehended and taken into custody over the course of 21 days in September 2024.
It reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy will keep up the pace of its anti-crude oil operations to deny oil thieves the freedom to operate, particularly in the Niger Delta region, in order to increase crude oil output and bolster the country’s economic growth.
