Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff
In continuation with the fight against Crude Oil Theft (COT), Illegal Refining Sites
(IRS) and illegal bunkering, Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO (OPDDB) has
continued to achieve the outlined objectives in the various Areas of Operation (AOO).
Notably, on 20 June 2022 NNS VICTORY at Calabar intercepted MV EDIDIONG
(IMO: 782500) laden with unspecified litres of AGO suspected to be illegally refined
product. Preliminary investigation showed that the vessel had legitimate permit to load
product from 6 – 19 June 2022 but this had expired. It was also discovered that the
vessel has been operating without switching on her Automatic Identification System
(AIS). The vessel and 7 crew were therefore detained and are currently in custody for
detailed investigation. Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH at Yenagoa
sustained patrol around Oyoma, Swali, Sagbama, Kuolama, Akassa and Onimbu areas.
The Base arrested one wooden boat laden with about 1,200 litres of illegally
refined crude oil product along Akassa axis. Furthermore, the Base handed over to the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Bayelsa State Command, 5 suspects arrested at a loading
point in Kaiama with intent to transfer illegally refined crude oil product from a large
wooden boat to a tanker truck.
On the same day, NNS DELTA at Warri raided a previously deactivated IRS at Atamba
creek in Gbodoro Community, Warri South West LGA where the IRS operators had
resumed operation. The IRS had 3 large pits cumulatively ladened with about 200,000
litres of stolen crude oil, 8 ovens and 14 metal storage tanks all containing
about 170,000 litres of illegally refined AGO including about 135,000 litres of illegally
refined DPK. The IRS was again deactivated and the products handled appropriately.
Afterwards, the Base sighted a wooden ‘Cotonou’ boat hidden inside a creek, ladened
with about 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. The product and the boat were
handled appropriately while a pumping machine was recovered. Later the Base
proceeded to another IRS in Banga creek where 6 ovens, 10 empty and 1 storage tank
ladened with 5,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered. Also, 10 large pits,
all filled with about 350,000 litres of stolen crude oil were discovered. The IRS was
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deactivated and all products handled appropriately. Further exploration of the creek led
to the discovery of 6 wooden boats cumulatively ladened with about 90,000 litres of
illegally refined AGO. The boats and products were handled appropriately.
On 21 June 2022, NNS PATHFINDER at Port Harcourt raided an IRS at Orutoru
Community and Amabiribe/Abuja creeks in Bonny LGA, Rivers State, where 2 IRS
were sighted. The sites had about 5 metal ovens and about 8 metal tanks of different
sizes. One of the tanks had freshly illegally refined products suspected to be AGO of
about 250,000 litres while 2 tanks were laden with stolen crude oil estimated to be
about 170,000 litres and the remaining 5 tanks were empty. Further to this, one
pumping machine and 5 rubber hoses were all recovered from the IRS. Similarly, on the
same day, NNS DELTA at Warri raided a previously deactivated IRS at Madangho
creek in Ugborodo community and discovered it was active with ovens and tanks
containing about 80,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. Also, there were 3 pits filled
with about 120,000 litres of stolen crude oil. The IRS was again deactivated and all the
products were handled appropriately. Also, an IRS at around Bennet Island in Warri
South LGA of Delta State was raided and deactivated. The IRS had 5 metal storage
tanks containing about 16,000 litres of stolen crude oil and about 7,000 litres of illegally
refined AGO. A total of 3 pumping machines and one generator were recovered from
the site. Furthermore, the Base intercepted 2 wooden boats around Obodo Omadino in
Warri South LGA. The wooden boats were laden with about 25,000 litres of suspected
stolen crude oil. Another IRS was found that had one large pit and 5 storage tanks
containing about 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 150,000 litres of illegally refined
AGO. Five pumping machines were recovered from the site. The site and wooden boats
were handled appropriately.
On 23 June 2022, NNS DELTA sustained patrol around Mbiama, Ahoda, Ekedi,
Sagbama, Brass, Akassa, Kuolama and Onimbu. The Base intercepted 2 tanker trucks
around Mbiama and Ahoda; one laden with 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined
AGO and the other with about 30,000 litres. Both trucks were deserted. Similarly, NNS
PATHFINDER arrested a truck laden with about 30,000 litres of suspected illegally
refined AGO. Also, the Base intercepted one large wooden boat loaded with
about 600,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil around Dead-Man Island in
Rivers State. The boat and product were handled appropriately.
On 24 June 2022, as part of efforts to continuously deny illegal bunkerers and crude oil
thieves freedom of operation, NNS SOROH sustained patrol in her Area of Operation
(AOO). During this, the Base arrested a wooden boat laden with about 10,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined crude oil product along Akassa area. The boat and products
were deactivated. Also, the Base revisited a previously deactivated IRS in Sangana
Creek, Brass LGA. The IRS had been reactivated with 5 illegal refining units
(ovens), 4 pits and 8 metal storage tanks all containing about 100,000 litres of stolen
crude oil and 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO. The IRS was again
deactivated. Also, one Fireman generator (6kw), one inverter welding engine, one filing
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machine, 2 rolls of hoses and welding materials were recovered from the site. On the
same day, NNS DELTA located an IRS at a creek around Benin River in Warri North
LGA of Delta State. The site had 15 ovens, 18 metal storage tanks and 3 pits containing
about 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil and about 120,000 litres of suspected illegally
refined AGO. Also, 3 pumping machines and one generator were discovered on the site.
Accordingly, the site was also deactivated.
Meanwhile, on 25 June 2022, NNS SOROH at Yenagoa received information from Oil
Mining License (OML) 59 Sangana indicating that one MV CAVALCADE fully loaded
with unknown substance sank within its AOO with her mast on the surface. The mishap
could have possibly occurred as a result of overload or lack of
seaworthiness. Pertinently, the crew of the vessel were rescued to Sangana community.
Further revelation indicated that the vessel sank at about 1.3 nautical miles (nm) from
Adriatic One rig, and 3.5 nm off Sangana river entrance.
On 26 June 2022, NNS SOROH discovered a vandalized pipeline along the Obama-
Brass axis belonging to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Brass. The company’s
management was notified accordingly. Similarly on 27 June 2022, Naval Security
Station (NSS) 028 under NNS SOROH rescued 2 timber workers while on patrol
around Nembe axis. The victims were from Ogbia and had earlier been attacked,
dispossessed of their sawing machines and abandoned in the bush by certain sea
robbers. They were evacuated from the scene and released. In related development,
NSS 028 apprehended a market boat around Saint Nicolas River. The boat was
conveying about 7,500 litres of illegally refined products stowed in sacks, bags and
gallons. The products were handled appropriately. Furthermore, NNS DELTA located
an IRS around Egwa Creek in Warri South-West LGA. The site had 2 ovens, 4 metal
storage tanks and 130 sacks of about 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and about 60,900
litres of suspected illegally refined AGO. The Base also intercepted about 4,750 litres of
illegally refined AGO around Ode Itsekiri in Warri South LGA, 4 speedboats laden
with 19 x 250 litres of drums. The speedboats, drums and pumping machine were
recovered.
On the same day, NNS PATHFINDER discovered an IRS around adjoining creeks at
Opu Adakiri and Otomakolombie general area. At the site, 3 empty metals tanks and an
oven were discovered within the same general area, another IRS and a wooden boat
ladened with about 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil were found. The boat and product
were handled appropriately while a pumping machine and a generator were recovered.
Furthermore, on 28 June 2022, NNS JUBILEE at Ikot-Abasi in conjunction with
NSS 031, intercepted a wooden boat LGA laden with about 30, 000 litres of stolen
crude oil around Ataba Creek in Oyorokoto general area of Andoni. Furthermore, the 3
tanker trucks earlier arrested by NNS SOROH on 23 June 2022 were moved to a safe
location and deactivated. On the same day, NNS DELTA raided an IRS
along Yeye/Khatoum Creek in Warri South West LGA. The IRS was inactive but
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had 12 ovens, 18 receiver tanks and some ovens under construction with 6 pits filled
with about 300,000 litres of stolen crude oil. All the products were handled
appropriately, while 2 welding machines and one 8hp outboard engine were recovered.
On 29 June 2022, NNS DELTA at Warri raided a previously deactivated IRS along
Madangho Creek in Warri South West LGA. The IRS was found to be active with 3
ovens, 5 receiver tanks as well as 8 large pits filled with about 20,000 litres of illegally
refined AGO and 700,000 litres of stolen crude oil. All the products were handled
appropriately. Relatedly, the Base in conjunction with Sector 1, Operation DELTA
SAFE (OPDS) and Chevron personnel discovered an illegal connection point on
Chevron crude oil supply pipeline at Sara creek in Warri South West LGA. The illegal
connection were disconnected and the pipes were recovered to Chevron yard. Same
day, NNS DELTA intercepted 2 tanker trucks along Omimi Link road in Uvwie LGA.
One truck was laden with about 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO while
the other had about 18,000 litres of illegally refined DPK. It was gathered that the
trucks were loaded with the illegally refined products around White House road in
Jakpa, Warri. Accordingly, the trucks were driven to a safe location along Warri-Sapele
road and handled appropriately. Similarly, NNS PATHFINDER conducted swamp
buggy operation at a dump site in Opumakiri, Obio/Akpor LGA Area along Cawthorne
Channel. During the operation, 5 metal reservoirs, 12 welding cylinders, new iron
sheets and pipes were handled appropriately. Meanwhile, 4 hot ovens were deactivated.
Following the successful seizures made by NNS VICTORY at Calabar, on 13
June 2022, the Base on 30 June 2022 handed over a total of 677 drums of suspected
illegally gotten PMS to NSCDC Cross River State Command. Relatedly, on the same
day, NNS DELTA at Warri intercepted one Toyota Sequoia Jeep laden with sacks of
illegally refined product in Warri South LGA. Precisely, a total of 50 x 30 litres sacks
containing about 1,500 litres of suspected illegally refined DPK. Accordingly, the
vehicle with the products were seized and handled appropriately. Furthermore, the Base
deactivated an IRS at Egwa Creek in Warri South West LGA. The IRS had 8 ovens, 15
receiver tanks and 6 large pits, containing about 50,000 litres of illegally refined AGO
and 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Also, intercepted was an abandoned wooden boat
loaded with sacks collectively filled with about 10,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
The boat and sacks were handled appropriately. Meanwhile, One generator and a
cutting machine were recovered. Another previously deactivated IRS at Madangho
Creek in Warri South West LGA was discovered to be active with 6 ovens, 8 receiver
tanks and 4 large pits filled with about 20,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and
about 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil. The products were handled appropriately.
Similarly, on 30 June 2022, NNS SOROH discovered 5 assembly points/stores at
Mbiama. The stores held about 45,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. Same was
destroyed insitu. Another Toyota Land Cruiser loaded with about 20,000 litres of
bagged AGO from the assembly point, was found in a nearby gutter. The criminals had
deliberately driven it into the gutter to conceal it before absconding. Additionally, the
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Base visited a previously deactivated IRS along Mbiama where there were signs that the
IRS operators were making efforts to resuscitate the site which had 2 mini storage
tanks, 4 large pits and 2 mini ovens collectively containing about 45,000 litres of
suspected illegally refined AGO and approximately 10,000 litres of crude oil.
The Summary of data and achievements of OPDDB from 20 – 30 June 2022 is thus as
follows:
AGO – 1,301,750 litres @ N820/litre = N1,067,435,000
Crude Oil – 21,744 barrels (@ $120/barrel) = N1,083,555,705.6 ($2,609,280)
DPK – 154,500 litres @ N679.54/litre = N104,988,930
Total Approximated Value of Products Denied Oil Thieves from 20 – 30
June 2022 is Two Billion Two Hundred and Fifty Five Million Nine Hundred and
Seventy Nine Thousand Six Hundred and Thirty Five Naira Six Kobo
(N2,255,979,635.6) Only. The following were also recorded:
Destroyed IRS – 14
Arrested Suspects – 12
Rescued – 2
Arrested Vessel – 1
Arrested Boats – 16
Arrested Vehicles – 4
Destroyed Ovens – 88
Destroyed Large Pits – 52
Destroyed Storage Tanks – 119
Recovered Outboard Engine – 1
Recovered Generators – 6
Recovered Inverter – 1
Recovered Wielding Machines – 14
Recovered Pumping Machines – 21
Recovered Hoses – 7
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Recovered Filing Machine – 1
Total approximated value of products denied oil thieves for the Month of
June 2022 is Seven Billion Thirty Six Million Five Hundred and Thirty Four
Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira Ninety Six Kobo
(N7,036,534,578.96) only.
Meanwhile for the 90 days of OPDDB (1 April to 30 June 2022) the value of crude
oil and products denied oil thieves and criminals is about Twenty Four Billion
Eighty Two Million Six Thousand One Hundred and Three Naira Ninety Six
Kobo (N24,082,006,103.96) only. Details of the products are as follows:
AGO – 21,698,562.59 litres
Crude Oil – 36,707,420.16 litres/230,882.73 barrels
DPK – 649,775.38 litres
PMS – 345,000.49 litres
Sludge – 380,000 litres
LPFO – 66,000 litres
Needful to add that the duration of OPDDB has been extended by 30 days.
source: nigerian navy