The Nigerian Navy has shut down eight illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta as part of its ongoing fight against crude oil theft and economic sabotage.
This was made known on Tuesday by Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of Forward Operating Base Escravos, while speaking with journalists in Warri, Delta State.
According to him, the illegal sites were discovered and destroyed during three different operations carried out under Operation Delta Sanity II. These operations were based on intelligence reports.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, with the seizure of approximately 16,040 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil,” he said.
The recovered products were found in two ovens, 43 dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu said the operations were in line with the orders of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who had directed all commands to stamp out illegal activities in the country’s waterways.
He gave a breakdown of the operations:
On May 14, naval officers discovered and destroyed two illegal refining sites in Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West Local Government Area. The sites contained about 5,625 litres of stolen crude stored in one oven and 17 pits.
On May 19, three more sites were found in the same area. There, officers recovered 2,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of refined AGO stored in one oven, five pits, and 18 polythene sacks.
On May 26, another operation at Oteghele in Obodo Omadino uncovered three more sites. About 7,915 litres of stolen crude oil were found in 21 dugout pits.
Okoloagu assured that the Navy will not relent in its efforts to protect Nigeria’s oil resources and bring illegal refiners to justice.
“FOB Escravos remains committed to its mandate of disrupting the operations of economic saboteurs and ensuring that Nigeria harnesses the full benefits of its natural resources,” he said.
