Nigerian navy arrests eight suspected oil thieves, destroys illegal refineries in the Niger Delta

The Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity, has within the period of 2 and 23 of September 2024, recorded significant successes in the fight against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta region.

Spokesman of the navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, in a statement, disclosed that: “Cumulatively, 8 suspects, 19 Illegal Refining Sites, 25 wooden boats, 138 sacks laden with stolen crude oil, 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, 12 dugout pits, 4 drums and 3 fibre boats were arrested and seized during the 21 day period in September 2024.”

A breakdown of the operation contained in the statement shows that: “On 2 September 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, 2 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.

“On 4 September 2024, 3 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.

“On 5 September 2024, 2 Illegal Refinery Sites, 2 ovens, 2 reservoirs, one dugout pit and 2 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.

“On 9 September 2024, 2 active Illegal Refining Sites with one wooden boat, 2 ovens, 3 dugout pits and 4 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.

“On 10 September 2024, 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 12 September 2024, 2 suspected sea robbers were arrested in their camp in Effiat community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

“On 13 September 2024, 2 Illegal Refining Sites, 8 reservoirs, 2 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 14 September 2024, one suspect, 4 Illegal Refining Sites with 2 ovens, 7 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 15 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.

“On 17 September 2024, one large wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil was discovered around Asaramatoro of Rivers State.

“On 19 September 2024, 4 Illegal Refining Sites and 2 reservoirs laden with illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were destroyed around Akasa, Gbaran-Azagbene of Bayelsa State.

“On 21 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 21 September 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, one oven, 3 dugout pits, 2 reservoirs and one wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized around Brass River, Nembe and Ogbolomabiri of Bayelsa State.

“On 22 September 2024, 5 suspects were arrested with a wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil around La Campagne Tropicana Beach area at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.

“On 23 September 2024, a vehicle laden with 50 sacks of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil was intercepted, while, one Illegal Refining Site with 4 reservoirs laden crude oil, were destroyed at Okolomadi community in Abua/Odua Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

The Nigerian Navy wowed to “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.”