The Nigerian Navy has disclosed that a review of the efforts of OPERATION DELTA SANITY from inception to date reveals a cumulative sum of N8,632,503,106.62 that has been denied to oil thieves and economic saboteurs.
NN’s Director of Information, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a statement on Wednesday while giving an update on the operations of various Nigerian Navy platforms deployed to combat the menace of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering plaguing Nigeria’s Maritime Environment.
TheFact Daily reports that the figure above comprises 60,815.77 barrels of crude oil, worth $5,218,273.569 (N8,129,424,791.45), 557,580 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) worth N497,486,165.17 and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) worth N5,592,150.
The Director said that as a result of the operations of these various platforms, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS), metal storage tanks, ovens, wooden boats, dugout pits, fibre boats, and pumping machines were appropriately handled, as well as the conduct of swamp buggy operations from 5 – 26 February 2024.
Specifically, Forward Operating Base FORMOSO at Bayelsa State, on 19 February 2024, conducted anti- Crude Oil Theft operations around Brass River as well as Akassa, Lagosgbene, Tebidaba, and Oyeregbene general area, during which, the team discovered 1 IRS and 2 wooden boats cumulatively laden with 62.9 barrels (10,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the site was dismantled while the boats and products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
Relatedly, on 19 February 2024, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS conducted anti-crude Oil Theft operations around the Aghor-Kutu Community in Warri Southern Local Government Area of Delta State. During the operations, the team discovered one IRS, 3 ovens, 1 reservoir, 1 pumping machine, 10 jerricans, and 38 drums laden with 195.9 barrels (31,150 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the site was dismantled while the products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER, conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations From 20 – 23 February 2024, around Abuloma, Abonnema, Woji, and Taraba jetty in Borikiri, Rivers State. During the operation, the team raided a car wash used for storing illegally refined products. The team discovered 1 IRS, 7 ovens, 60 drums, and 2 reservoirs laden with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO.
The team also intensified operations around Cawthorne Channel 1 in Bille general area which led to the discovery of a wellhead where crude oil was being siphoned. At the site, one large wooden boat was discovered laden with about 283.0 barrels (45,000Litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. All products and their items were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
Furthermore, on 21 February 2024, Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA conducted anti-crude oil theft operations around Agadagba in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. In the course of the operation, the team discovered 4 wooden boats laden with 1,200 litres of products suspected to be stolen AGO. The IRS was dismantled while products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
On 21 February 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH patrol team while on routine patrol intercepted 2 private vehicles conveying 79 sacks of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil estimated to be 20,000 litres around Okarki general areas of Bayelsa State. Additionally, the team in conjunction with NSS 030 conducted an anti-crude Oil Theft operation around the Egbosuwy general area. During the operation, the team intercepted 5 ovens, 9 drums, 25 iron pipes, 1 pumping machine, and 1 wooden boat laden with about 1,500 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil. Accordingly, the vehicles and products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
In the same vein, a cordon and search operation conducted around Agbojetho Akorin in Lagos State on 22 February 2024, by operatives of the Forward Operating Base BADAGRY patrol team led to the discovery of 9,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in a building. Accordingly, the products were evacuated to the Base for further investigation.
On the same day, the Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team intercepted a large wooden boat from the Republic of Cameroon around Uyenghe in Ibaka area, Cross River State. The boat was laden with about 5,100 litres of product suspected to be illegally siphoned Premium Motor Spirit concealed under other utility items. Accordingly, 2 suspects and cargo onboard were handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.
In summary, 3 IRS, 15 ovens, 2 reservoirs, 8 wooden boats, and one fibre boat were appropriately handled during the period under review. Additionally, oil thieves were denied about 55,120 bbls (8,764,080 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, 141,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, and 9,000 litres of illegally siphoned Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), amounting to the sum of Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Two Naira Fifty-Eight Kobo (N7,422,792,302.58) only.
Ayo-Vaughan noted that a comparison of the figures of the week under focus with those of the previous week indicates an increase in the number of ovens, wooden boats, vehicles, and speed boats, and a decrease in Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and reservoirs. However, the number of dugout pits deactivated remains the same.
Also, the week under focus witnessed an increase in quantity of crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) denied oil thieves during the period in focus, which “gives credence to the effectiveness of Nigerian Navy anti-crude Oil Theft operations”, he said.
