Motivated by the monumental achievements of NNS Pathfinder Operation Delta Sanity to deny oil thieves and vandals across various parts of the Niger Delta the freedom of action, the Chief of Naval Staff CNS Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has extended its operation with 90 Days.
The CNS had on Thursday, 25th April, 2024, at the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt gave the order.
This was disclosed by the Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiyuwor Adams-Aliu in Abuja on Wednesday in Abuja.
It was learnt that since the operation began in January 2024, Operation DELTA SANITY has recorded successes leading to the recovery of large quantities of stolen crude oil and refined products.
These included 95 seized Wooden Boats; 119 deactivated storage tanks and Refining Ovens; 447 deactivated Dugout Pits, 120 deactivated Illegal Refining Sites; 13 seized Fibre Boats; nine seized Vehicles; 74 arrested suspects and 14 Arrested Vessels.
DINFO further said that the extension was in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to eradicate crude oil theft and ramp up Nigeria’s production for an improved economy.
Accordingly, Operation DELTA SANITY was conceptualized as a major anti-crude oil theft operation, the Nigerian Navy personnel, platforms, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were deployed on aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta area.
From Bayelsa to Ondo to Rivers to Akwa Ibom States, and beyond, with the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, arrest of suspects, and seizure of stolen products has underscored the resolve of the Nigerian Navy to stamp out crude oil theft.
Additionally, commands, units and bases were directed to conduct both Kinetic and non-kinetic operations to stem the tide of maritime criminalities.
The CNS thanked the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces in general and the Nigerian Navy in particular.
He also commended all the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy who daily sacrifice every form of physical comfort to fulfil the mandate of Operation DELTA SANITY
It would be recalled that on 6th January 2024, The CNS launched Operation DELTA SANITY to combat Crude Oil Theft.
