Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff
The various NN platforms deployed for OPERATION DAKATAR DA BARAWO,
CALM WATERS II and TRI-PARTITE JOINT BORDER PATROL have continued to
sustain aggressive patrols to curb the menace of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering.
Accordingly, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS), metal storage tanks, wooden boats,
dugout pits and ovens were destroyed between 13-19 June 2022.
On 14 June 2022, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in Rivers state intercepted
and seized 2 wooden boats at Rumoparale within Port Harcourt channel. The boats were
laden with about 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. Accordingly, the boats and
products were destroyed. Similarly, NNS VICTORY in Cross Rivers state intercepted
and impounded 3 wooden boats laden with drums of suspected illegally refined PMS
around Ikang channel, suspected to be transported to Cameroon. The boats and products
are in custody. Also, Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY in Rivers State
intercepted 2 wooden boats laden with about 400,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil
at Iwokiri.
The wooden boats and products were destroyed.
On 15 June 2022, NNS PATHFINDER arrested one wooden boat laden with
about 450,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO at Choba within Port Harcourt
Channel. The boat and products were destroyed appropriately. Also, the patrol team
located and deactivated an IRS which had 8 metal storage tanks with about 400,000
litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 4 metal storage tanks containing about 200,000
litres of illegally refined AGO as well as one metal storage tank filled with about 50,000
litres of suspected illegally refined DPK.
The products were destroyed accordingly.
Similarly, NNS SOROH in Bayelsa State intercepted a wooden boat laden with about
60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO. The boat and contents were destroyed.
Also, a reactivated IRS at Okubotuwo Camp, Brass LGA was discovered with one oven,
one dug-out pit, and 3 metal tanks cumulatively filled with about 40,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined AGO and 10,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
Additionally, a wooden boat containing unspecified quantity of crude oil was also
discovered. All were handled appropriately. Furthermore, the team located and
deactivated another IRS within same vicinity.
The site had 3 metal storage tanks filled
with about 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO
respectively. Additionally, one wooden boat laden with unspecified quantity of
suspected stolen crude oil was discovered and handled appropriately. Relatedly, NNS
2
DELTA in Warri, Delta State intercepted 2 speedboats cumulatively laden with about
2000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO around Isaba Community in Warri South
LGA. Also, the team located and deactivated an IRS around Benett Island in Warri
South LGA. The site had 15 metal storage tanks and 7 ovens cumulatively filled with
about 25,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil
and 100,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
On 16 June 2022, NNS DELTA located an IRS around Okpobene Creek in Warri
South-West LGA. During the raid, 7 ovens and 12 metal storage tanks cumulatively
laden with about 120,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and about 190,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined AGO were destroyed. Additionally, an IRS around Koh
Creek in Warri South LGA with 5 metal storage tanks, 2 ovens and 5 pits cumulatively
laden with
about 150,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and about 70,000 litres of suspected
illegally refined AGO was deactivated. Also, one wooden boat was discovered and
destroyed. FOB ESCRAVOS in Delta State located a reactivated IRS at Agor in Warri
Southwest LGA. The site had 3 pits, 8 ovens and 12 metal storage tanks cumulatively
filled with about 215,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil which were handled
appropriately.
On 17 June 2022, NNS PATHFINDER arrested and destroyed a wooden boat laden
with about 60,000 litres of illegally refined AGO along Isaka Axis, Port Harcourt
Channel. Also, NNS DELTA seized a Tanker and a wooden boat at a jetty around
Oghara Market in Ethiope West LGA. The tanker was receiving about 30,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined AGO from the wooden boat. Accordingly, the truck and boat
were destroyed. Furthermore, 5 suspects and a wooden boat laden with about 70,000
litres of suspected illegally refined AGO were apprehended under Kiama bridge.
Additionally, a Toyota Sienna Vehicle in the same location was seized. The suspects,
vehicle and items are currently in the custody of NNS SOROH while the boat was
destroyed accordingly. In a similar development, an open truck laden with about 500
sacks of suspected crude oil was impounded without its occupants along new
expressway in Yenagoa. The truck and its content were also destroyed accordingly.
Similarly, an IRS at Emenudong creek, Ataba in Andoni LGA Rivers State was
discovered and deactivated. The site had 4 metal storage tanks filled with about 250,000
litres suspected illegally refined AGO. Furthermore, the team discovered and destroyed
a barge laden with about 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO and 2
wooden boats laden with about 180,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
On 18 June 2022, NNS PATHFINDER intercepted and destroyed a wooden boat laden
with about 500,000litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Mingidukuri River and another
wooden boat laden with about 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. Furthermore, on
the same day the team discovered an illegal crude oil loading point at Eroton creek,
Cawthorne channel with a wooden boat taking in crude oil from a well head. The boat
could not be moved due to safety concerns. However, the Base established a guard post
at the entrance of the creek to deny miscreants access to the well head. Furthermore
NNS DELTA located and destroyed a wooden boat laden with about 20,000 litres of
illegally refined AGO along Sara Creek in Warri Southwest LGA.
On 19 June 2022, NNS DELTA located 3 IRS around Opumami Creek in Warri South
LGA. Accordingly, 2 metal storage tanks, 5 ovens and 7 dugout pits cumulatively laden
with about 120,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed. Equally, a boat
was discovered within the vicinity and was destroyed. On the same day, the Base
located and deactivated 2 IRS at Atumakiri. The sites had about 10 ovens and 15 metal
storage tanks cumulatively filled with about 450,000 litres suspected illegally refined
AGO and 350,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil. Furthermore, the Base intercepted and
destroyed a wooden boat laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil
in a creek at Adiakwo and Ugbunku.
In another development, Op CALM WATERS II (OCW) and Op TRI-PARTITE JOINT
BORDER PATROL (TJBP) were sustained during the period under review.
Accordingly, on 15 June 2022, FOB IGBOKODA in Ondo State intercepted and seized
Toyota Camry with and a Nissan Primera along Mahim and Ugbonla junction Ilage
LGA of Ondo State. The vehicles were discovered to be carrying a total of 84 x 25 litre
jerry cans containing illegally refined AGO. The vehicles and products are in the
custody of FOB IGBOKODA for further investigation.
The Summary of data and achievements of OPDDB within the period under review is as
follows:
Crude Oil – 2,305,000 litres (11,820.512 barrels @ 120 USD = N594,335,343.36)
AGO – 2,642,000 @ N820 = N2,166,440,000
DPK – 50,000 litres @ N565 = N28,250,000
TOTAL VALUE OF PRODUCTS DENIED OIL THIEVES = N2,789,025,343.36
Two Billion, Seven Hundred Eighty Nine Million, Twenty Five Thousand, Three
Hundred and Forty Three Naira Thirty Six Kobo only.
ARRESTS – 5
IRS – 14
STORAGE TANKS – 80
WOODEN BOATS – 22
OVEN – 40
SPEED BOATS – 2
VEHICLES – 1 tanker, 1 truck, 1 barge and a Toyota Sienna.