Nigerian Navy has disclosed that within one week of aggressive patrols to combat Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering within Nigeria’s Maritime Environment, led to frustrating criminals of oil worth N1,058,448,326.33 that could have been used to perpetrate acts inimical to national security and prosperity.
It further stated while giving a resume of the Nigerian Navy’s Anti Crude Oil Theft (COT)/Anti-Illegal Bunkering effort as currently steered under Operation DELTA SANITY that the force also arrested 40 Wooden Boats; 55 illegal refining ovens; 49 Reservoirs; 27 Dugout Pits; and 19 Deactivated IRS.
These were contained in updates released by the Director of Information (DINFO), Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan in Abuja on Tuesday, 6th February 2024 the Nigerian Navy fight against crude oil theft from 29th January to 4th February 2024.
According to him, various Nigerian Navy platforms deployed for the operation have continued to conduct aggressive patrols to combat Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering within Nigeria’s Maritime Environment.
As a result, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS), metal storage tanks, ovens, wooden boats, dugout pits, fibre boats and pumping machines were appropriately handled from 29 January – 4 February 2024.
Specifically, on 29th January 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in Rivers State in conjunction with Naval Security Station (NSS) 022, 026 and 028 conducted Recognizance Operations around Elem krakrama Creek and Ke in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, which led to the interception of six wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 600 Litres of products suspected to be stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 566.0 barrels (90.000 Litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Similarly, on 29 January 2024, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso at Bayelsa State conducted an Ant-COT/Illegal bunkering operation around Brass River, Akassa, and Obama general area in Ogbia.
Similar Operations in Nembe and Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State led to the discovery of four IRS, five ovens and two pumping machines. They also arrested five wooden boats laden with about 704.4 bbls (112,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The sites and items were dismantled while the products were handled appropriately.
According to the statement, other achievements included, on 29 January 2024, FOB Escravos in Delta State conducted anti-COT operations around Saghara Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State. During the operation, the team visited a previously deactivated IRS which was observed to be under reconstruction. The site had one empty reservoir and 5 dug-out pits. Accordingly, the site was dismantled while items were deactivated.
In another development, from 29 January to 2 February 2024, NNS SOROH in Bayelsa State in conjunction with Naval Security Stations 030 and Ocean Marine Solution Houseboat Peremebiri conducted an Anti-COT/Anti-Illegal Bunkering operation around Ogbotobo and Fish Camp Community in Atala area of Bayelsa State.
During the operations, the Team discovered a vandalized flowline station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company which was recently reactivated. The Team also found a newly constructed IRS with 2 pumping machines, 3 generators, galvanized pipes, a 50 kg gas cylinder, and other construction items. The team also found one wooden boat laden with sacks of about 19,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen AGO. Accordingly, the items, wooden boats and products were towed to a safe location and deactivated.
Similarly, on 30 January 2024, Naval Base Oguta in Imo State conducted Anti-COT/Anti-Illegal Bunkering operation in her immediate environs. During the operations, the team discovered one fibre boat laden with about 7.5bbls (1,200 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the boat and product were towed to a safe location and deactivated.
Furthermore, from 30 January – 2 February 2024, Naval Flying Unit, PortHarcourt conducted aerial surveillance at Abonnema, Temakiri, Aiya Abissa, Ke, Krakrama Tuma, Samkiri, Ukwa West, Ikwuriator, Imo River and Aba River. During surveillance, the Team sighted various IRS and wooden boats laden with unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO in numerous numbers suspected to have been siphoned from a nearby wellhead. Accordingly, the incident was reported to the relevant Units for appropriate action.
In summary, 4 IRS, 5 ovens, one reservoir, 5 dugout pits and 12 wooden boats were appropriately handled during the period under review. Additionally, oil thieves were denied about 1,277.9 barrels (203,200 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 19,600 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) amounting to the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira Thirty-Two Kobo (N151,774,256.32) only.
Crude Oil -1,277.9 barrels @ $82.03/barrel = $104,826.137
AGO -19,600 litres @ N1,055.57/litre = N20,689,172
A review of Operation DELTA SANITY from inception to date revealed that approximately 4,036.7 barrels of crude oil, worth $473,009.589 (N591,498,491.04) and 270,600 litres of illegally refined AGO worth (N157,562,542.57).
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