By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of Operation Delta Sanity II of the Nigerian Navy said they recorded huge success against crude oil theft in March.
Commodore A Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, in a statement posted on Nigeria Navy verified Facebook page on Saturday said an Illegal refinery site laden with about 5,500 liters of stolen crude oil, 2,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 1 oven, 9 dugout pits, 15 polythene sacks of illegally refined AGO, 13 sacks of stolen crude oil, and 1 pumping machine were discovered and deactivated around Oteghele community at Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State on Friday, 7 March 2025.
According to the statement, “On Saturday, 8 March 2025, a big wooden boat laden with 40,000 liters of crude oil was seized around Okrika and Ogajama general area in Rivers State.
“On Sunday, 9 March 2025, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO Registration N0: 8778275 was arrested around Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State with illegal arms and ammunition onboard. The arms included 1 G3 Rifle, 1 pump action gun, 20 x rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition, and 7 x live cartridges. Two suspects linked to the illegal firearms were also arrested and will face prosecution.
“On Monday, 10 March 2025, three Illegal Refinery Sites, 3 ovens, 7 dugout pits, 8 sacks with 3,700 liters of crude oil, 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 liters of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South West Local Government Area, Delta State.
“On Thursday, 13 March 2025, a vandalized wellhead, 8 Illegal Refinery Sites, 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs, and 30 dugout pits with about 55,000 liters of stolen crude oil and about 4,000 liters of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Ohaji/Egbema West in Rivers State.”
Additionally, “On Friday 14 March 2025, two wooden boats laden with over 5,000 liters of stolen crude oil, and 2 drums were seized along Dodo River in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“On Sunday, 17 March 2025, a fiber boat laden with 1000 liters of stolen crude oil was seized around Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers State.”
It added that on Monday 17 March 2025, three Illegal Refinery Sites, 2 ovens, 10 dugout pits, 3 sacks with about 2,700 liters of stolen crude oil, and 18 polythene sacks of about 1,900 liters of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State.
“on Thursday, 20 March 2025, two wooden boats actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead, 2 drums of stolen crude oil, and 1 cooking oven were discovered and seized around Clough Creek and Dodo River in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, among others,” it stated.
It said the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla reiterated that the Nigerian Navy will continue to intensify its operations in support of Nigeria’s economic activities, particularly the mandate to improve crude oil production as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
