In reinvigorated efforts to deal with the nuisance value of crude oil thieves and stop their illegal activities, the Nigerian Navy has successfully discovered, recovered, and destroyed 23 Illegal Refinery Sites, 30 ovens, 26 reservoirs, 77 sacks, 19 dug-out pits, 21 wooden boats, four jerry cans, two pumping machines, and large quantities of crude oil and AGO during various operations carried out by the force in October 2024.
It was discovered that these successes led to increased production in Nigeria’s Crude oil, which has been acknowledged by the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, to have risen to 1.8 million barrels per day in October 2024.
In a statement in Abuja by the Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiyuwor Adams-Aliu explained that the Nigerian Navy Units under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY destroyed several Illegal Refining Sites as well as recovered significant quantities of stolen crude oil from criminals in the Niger-Delta.
In a breakdown, Commodore Adams-Aliu said that on 8 October 2024, three Illegal Refinery Sites, 15 ovens, 12 reservoirs, five dugout pits and two wooden boats laden with about 12,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered and destroyed around Bakana River, Bukuma axis and Ogaji-Ama of Rivers State.
On 9 October 2024, one suspect with one locally made pistol was arrested with three cases of ammunition while three Illegal Refinery Sites, as well as five reservoirs, two ovens, one dugout pit, two wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 900 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, was discovered around Otuwo and Ogboinbiri general area of Bayelsa State.
He added that on 11 October 2024, five Illegal Refinery Sites with four ovens, three reservoirs and a few sacks cumulatively laden with about 4,000 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered around Ugbokodo and Christian village in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The DINFO further reiterated that on the 11th of October 2024, a market boat laden with about 2,200 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in jerry cans and sacks was discovered at Idi-Ogba, Ondo State.
On 12 October 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site with two ovens and one dugout pit laden with suspected stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Isonogbene, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Their efforts paid off as the force on 12 October 2024, said one fibre boat laden with illegally refined AGO concealed in 30 sacks was discovered and destroyed around Ezeh-Gbene, Tamagbene, and Igbomotoru axis in Southern ljaw of Bayelsa State.
Other recoveries at the moment included three Illegal Refinery Sites, two reservoirs and three wooden boats laden with about 8,000 litres of illegally refined AGO that were discovered and destroyed around Cawthorne channel, Bilie, Bukuma, Tombia, Old Bakana and Krakrama axis of Rivers State.
“On 14 October 2024, a wooden boat laden with about 30,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered around Shell and adjoining creeks in Rivers State.
“On 16 October 2024, three Illegal Refinery Sites, one reservoir, one oven, 65 sacks, four jerrycans and four wooden boats laden with unspecified quantity of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was seized around Kongho and Otuwo Igbomotoru general area of Bayelsa State.
“On 21 October 2024, five large wooden boats laden with about 48,300 litres, of product suspected to be illegal refined AGO stored in a house and a barge conveying a Crane and other equipment used for stealing oil product was discovered around Akpila, Bakana and Buguma axis river in Rivers State.
Also, on 22 October 2024, a large wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Asamatoro community along Opobo Riser general area of Rivers state.
However, on the 23rd October 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site, one oven, nine dugout pits, one fibre boat laden with about 50,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were seized around Odioma axis of Brass Local Government Area in Delta state.
According to Commodore Adams-Aliu, troops of Operation Delta Sanity had on 23rd October 2024 ensured that two Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, two reservoirs and 13 dugout pits cumulatively laden with product suspected to be stolen crude oil and about 7,300 liters of illegal refined AGO was discovered and destroyed around Obodo Omadino community at Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
While on 24 October 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site, three ovens, and two pumping machines, with about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 600 litres of illegally refined AGO in jerry cans were discovered and destroyed around Obenla Riverine Community of llaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Accordingly, the sites and products were handled appropriately.
It was also revealed that on the 26th of October 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site, one reservoir, 15 sacks laden with about 1,500 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 900 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were discovered around Otuwo general area of Bayelsa State. Accordingly, the Illegally Refinery Site and products were handed appropriately.