Nigerian Navy has, again, arrested eight suspects for crude oil thief, discovered and destroyed 19 Illegal Refining Sites, 25 wooden boats and 138 sacks laden with stolen crude oil confiscated, and 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, 12 dugout pits destroyed including four drums and three fibre boats during an operation in 21 days.
According to the Director of Information (DINFO), Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiyuwor Adams-Aliu, in a statement on Friday, explained that a stringent operation under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY between 2nd to 23rd September, 2024 led to the various confiscations.
A breakdown indicates that on the 2nd September, 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, two wooden boats and 28 sacks laden with product suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed and seized at Isonogbene, Ogboinbiri, Kasama-Azama-Isoni axis in South Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
In the same vein, on the 4th September, 2024, three wooden boats and one speed boat laden with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized around Brass River, Nembe, Botokiri community in Bayelsa State.
While on the 5th September, 2024, two Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, two reservoirs, one dugout pit and two wooden boats laden with product suspected to be stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized around Bonny Channel, Sobikiri, Adamakiri, Eferwarie and Isaka general area of Rivers State.
Commodore Adams-Aliu further stated that on 9th September, 2024, two active Illegal Refining Sites with one wooden boat, two ovens, three dugout pits and four drums laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Okporoza creek and Tibo community Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Others include on the 10th September 2024, where a newly constructed Illegal Refinery Site, one reservoir and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Odo-Bioku within Awoye Riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“On 12th September, 2024, two suspected sea robbers were arrested in their camp in Effiat community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and on 13th September, 2024, two Illegal Refining Sites, eight reservoirs, two dugout pits, 11 ovens laden with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed and seized around Billie in Degema, Abua-Fekoru community, Borokiri and in Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“On the 14th September, 2024, one suspect, four Illegal Refining Sites with two ovens, seven reservoirs, one dugout pit, 13 wooden boats, one fibre boat, and 48 sacks laden with refined Automated Gas Oil were arrested and seized around Igbigiba, Akasa, Ogboinbiri, as well as Kasama-Azama and Isonogbene general areas of Southern Ijaw in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“On the 15th September, 2024, one wooden boat, one fibre boat and 12 sacks containing stolen crude oil were seized around Brass River, Nembe and Odioma in Bayelsa State.
Spokesperson of the force reiterated that further intensification of their operations to rout the crude oil thieves led to the discovery on the 17th September, 2024, one large wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil was discovered around Asaramatoro of Rivers State.
A couple of days later, it was learnt that on the 19th September, 2024, four Illegal Refining Sites and two reservoirs laden with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed around Akasa, Gbaran-Azagbene of Bayelsa State.
And on the 21st September, 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, one oven, and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed around Fishtown, Sangana river and Igbematoro in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“On the 21st September, 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, one oven, three dugout pits, two reservoirs and one wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized around Brass River, Nembe and Ogbolomabiri of Bayelsa State.
“On the 22nd September, 2024, five suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil around La Campagne Tropicana Beach area at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
While on the 23rd September, 2024, a vehicle laden with 50 sacks of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil was intercepted, while, one Illegal Refining Site with four reservoirs laden crude oil, were destroyed at Okolomadi community in Abua/Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Commodore Adams-Aliu reiterated that the Nigerian Navy would continue to sustain the tempo of Anti Crude Oil Operations to deny oil thieves freedom of action, especially in the Niger Delta region for enhanced crude oil production towards improved economic development of our nation.
About The Author
