Troops of the Nigerian Navy’s “Operation Delta Sanity” have seized 4,036.7 barrels of stolen crude oil worth $473,009.589 and 270,600 litres of illegally refined AGO worth N157,562,542.57 in one week.
The director of information at Naval headquarters, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, who revealed this in a statement yesterday, said the troops destroyed 19 illegal refining sites (IRS), 55 ovens, 27 dugout pits, 49 reservoirs and arrested 40 wooden boats.
He said the troops between 29 January -4 February 2024 seized stolen products worth N1,058,448,326.33 only, which could have been used to perpetrate acts inimical to national security and prosperity.
Ayo-Vaughan said the troops of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER in Rivers State in conjunction with Naval Security Station (NSS) 022, 026 and 028 on 29 January 2024, conducted “Recognisance Operations” around Elem krakrama Creek and Ke in Degema local government rea (LGA) of Rivers State.
He said troops during the operations, intercepted six wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 600 Litres of products suspected to be stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 566.0 barrels (90.000 Litres) of product suspected to be stole crude oil.
Again, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso at Bayelsa State on 29 January 2024, conducted Ant-COT/Illegal bunkering operation around Brass River, Akassa, and Obama general area in Ogbia.
He said the team discovered four illegal refining sites, five ovens and two pumping machine and also arrested five wooden boats laden with about 704.4 bbls (112,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Similarly, on 29 January 2024, FOB Escravos in Delta State conducted anti-COT operations around Saghara Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State.
He added that team visited a previously deactivated IRS which was observed to be under reconstruction with one empty reservoir and five dug out pits.
In another development, NNS SOROH in Bayelsa State in conjunction with Naval Security Stations 030 and Ocean Marine Solution Houseboat Peremebiri from 29 January – 2 February 2024, conducted Anti-COT/Anti-Illegal Bunkering operation around Ogbotobo and Fish Camp Community in Atala area of Bayelsa State.
The statement said the team during the operations, discovered a vandalized flowline station belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company which was recently reactivated.