The Nigerian Navy has intensified its operations against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, recovering a large quantity of suspected illegally refined petroleum products hidden in forest areas of Rivers State under the ongoing Operation Delta Sentinel.
The latest seizure comes just days after operatives of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lekki intercepted about 1,800 litres of suspected stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an intelligence-driven raid targeting illegal petroleum activities in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.
In another related operation, personnel of FOB Badagry confiscated 130 bags of foreign parboiled rice during an anti-smuggling patrol along the Badagry waterways.
Confirming the Rivers operation, the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed that operatives attached to Operation Delta Sentinel continued their clampdown on crude oil theft with the recovery of about 1,600 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO.
Folorunsho stated that the operation was executed by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh after credible intelligence revealed the movement and concealment of illegally refined petroleum products around Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, close to the border with Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the Anti-Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team deployed to the Orashi Forest area where aerial surveillance using an unmanned system led to the identification of several sacks suspected to contain illegally refined AGO concealed beneath grasses within the forest.
“Subsequent exploitation of the area resulted in the recovery of 16 sacks containing approximately 100 litres each, amounting to an estimated total of 1,600 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO.”
According to Folorunsho, the suspects escaped before naval personnel arrived at the scene, and no arrests were recorded during the operation.
He explained that the recovered products were evacuated and handled in accordance with standard operational procedures.
The Navy spokesperson said the successful operation underscores the commitment of the Nigerian Navy under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining networks and curb economic sabotage within the country’s maritime environment and adjoining creeks.
Captain Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s resolve to sustain the ongoing offensive against individuals involved in crude oil theft and related criminal activities.
“There will be no safe haven for criminal elements engaged in crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage, as ongoing operations are designed to give such elements no breathing space across the nation’s waterways and adjoining creeks,” he stated.
