The Nigerian Navy reported that in March, its OPERATION DELTA SANITY II soldiers achieved significant progress in combating crude oil theft.
Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, in a statement posted on the Nigeria Navy’s verified Facebook page on Saturday, said on Friday, 7 March, 2025, an illegal refinery site laden with about 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,000 litres 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 the Oteghele community at Obodo Omadino in Warri, Southwest Local Government Area, Delta State.
According to the statement, “on Saturday, 8 March 2025, a big wooden boat laden with 40,000 litres of crude oil was seized around the Okrika and Ogajama general area in Rivers State.
“On Sunday, 9 March 2025, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO registration no. 8778275, was arrested around the 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 litres of crude oil, and 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 litres 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 litres of stolen crude oil and about 4,000 litres 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 litres of stolen crude oil and 2 drums were seized along the Dodo River in the Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“On Sunday, 17 March 2025, a fibre boat laden with 1000 litres of stolen crude oil was seized around the 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 litres of stolen crude oil, and 18 polythene sacks of about 1,900 litres 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 the 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 the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Written By John Gabriel