Navy Says Sophisticated Syndicates Behind Crude Oil Theft

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Navy has described crude oil thieves operating in the country as sophisticated and coordinated syndicates, saying the scale of their activities shows they are not petty criminals.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief earlier on Thursday.

Mr Folorunsho said successful crude oil theft operations require significant resources, coordination and investment, particularly when they involve large volumes of petroleum products and the use of vessels.

“These syndicates are very, very coordinated and very, very sophisticated. You don’t steal crude at that scale without some wherewithal to be able to make it happen,” he said.

He explained that the profitability of successful crude theft operations encouraged individuals to pool resources and invest in equipment to carry out the activities.

His comments came hours after the Navy announced the discovery of three suspected illegal refining sites, six reservoirs and approximately 99,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel.

The Navy said the discoveries were made during operations in Rivers and Delta states.

Mr Folorunsho said increased government investment in maritime surveillance had improved the Navy’s capacity to detect and disrupt oil theft and other criminal activities on the country’s waterways.

He said there was now “no hiding place” for oil thieves, citing the acquisition of advanced maritime surveillance equipment and the sustained operational drive under the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

“But again, the message from the Nigerian Navy is: there is no hiding place with our maritime surveillance equipment and with the sustained drive under the directive of the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas,” he said.

Mr Folorunsho warned oil thieves that the Navy would continue to pursue them and ensure that those arrested faced prosecution.

“I just wish to tell each one of them, I mean these criminal elements that want to come to perpetuate these crimes, their days are numbered, and if we catch you, of course, we’ll ensure that you face the law,” he said.