By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Navy has disclosed that its franchise oil theft troops, Operation Delta Sanity, intercepted 4,036.7 barrels of crude oil and 270,600 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO), known as diesel, with a market value at N1.05 billion from oil thieves in one week.
The Director of Naval Information, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a statement on Wednesday and said these were seized in the operations conducted by the navy between January 29 and February 4.
The spokesperson said the operations also led to the deactivation of 40 wooden boats, 55 illegal refining ovens, 49 reservoirs, 27 dugout pits and 19 illegal refining sites.
According to him, the various Nigerian Navy platforms deployed for the operation have continued to conduct aggressive patrols to combat oil theft within Nigeria’s maritime environment.
The navy spokesman said the Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, in conjunction with three Naval Security Stations, on January 29 conducted reconnaissance operations around Elem Krakrama Creek and Ke in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers.
He said the team intercepted six wooden boats laden with about 600 litres of products suspected to be stolen AGO and 566 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
He said that the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso, on the same day, conducted operations around Brass River, Akassa, and Obama in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa as well as Nembe and Southern Ijaw.
“During the operations, the team discovered four illegal refining sites, five ovens and two pumping machines.
“They also arrested five wooden boats laden with about 704.4 barrels (112,000 litres) of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and the sites and items were dismantled while the products were handled appropriately.
“Also, on Jan. 29, FOB Escravos in Delta conducted anti-crude oil theft operations around Saghara Creek in Warri South Local Government Area.
“During the operation, the team visited a previously deactivated illegal refining site which was observed to be under reconstruction and had one empty reservoir and five dug-out pits,” he said.
Rear Admiral Ayo-Vaughan said the NNS Soroh in Bayelsa in conjunction with naval station 030 and Ocean Marine Solution Houseboat Peremebiri, also conducted operations around Ogbotobo and Fish Camp Community in the Atala area of Bayelsa between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2.
He said the team discovered a vandalised flowline station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company which was recently reactivated.
According to him, the team also found a newly constructed illegal refining site with two pumping machines, three generators, galvanised pipes, a 50 kg gas cylinder, and other construction items.
He added that the team also found one wooden boat laden with sacks of about 19,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen AGO, adding that the boat was safely deactivated.
According to him, on January 30, Naval Base Oguta in Imo conducted an operation and discovered one fibre boat laden with about 7.5 barrels (1,200 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
“Furthermore, from January 30 to February 2, Naval Flying Unit, Port Harcourt conducted aerial surveillance at Abonnema, Temakiri, Aiya Abissa, Ke, Krakrama Tuma, Samkiri, Ukwa West, Ikwuriator, Imo River and Aba River.
“During surveillance, the team sighted various illegal refining sites and wooden boats laden with unspecified quantities of illegally refined AGO in numerous numbers suspected to have been siphoned from a nearby wellhead.
“Accordingly, the incident was reported to relevant Units for appropriate action,” he added.
Modupe Gbadeyanka