Nigerian Navy’s Ongoing Fight Against Crude Oil Theft
To protect Nigeria’s maritime territory and combat crude oil theft (COT), the Nigerian Navy has achieved significant successes through Operation DELTA SANITY II.
Summary of Operations in January 2025
In January 2025, the Navy conducted several arrests and seizures:
Early January Operations
a. January 6, 2025: Officers seized a wooden and a fiber boat, each carrying about 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil in the Krakrama area of Rivers State.
b. January 7, 2025: The Navy uncovered nine illegal refinery sites and 20,000 liters of stolen crude oil in four tanks. They seized 1,400 liters of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), two pumping machines, and two wooden boats in the Obe-Nla riverine community of Ondo State.
c. January 10, 2025: In Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, officers seized a wooden passenger boat with six 250-liter drums of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and arrested five suspects.
Mid-January Operations
d. January 11, 2025: The Navy raided a militant camp in Opu-Okumbiri, Bayelsa State, where they arrested two suspected kidnappers and seized an AK-56 rifle, three locally made guns, five pump-action guns, and ammunition.
e. January 12, 2025: Officers found a vandalized section of the Akasowell 14 and 17 flow line, which was linked to a dugout pit containing about 20,000 liters of stolen crude oil in Tuma and Krakrama, Rivers State. They reported the vandalism and confiscated the crude.
f. January 15, 2025: The Navy uncovered three illegal refinery sites with 20 drums of illegally refined AGO in Azuzuwama Okpuktuari, Bayelsa State.
g. January 17, 2025: Officers deactivated an illegal refinery with about 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil at Ikputukiri camp, Bayelsa State. They also seized another site with ten dugout pits and a wooden boat carrying about 2,000 liters of stolen crude in Tuma and Bille, Rivers State.
Late January Operations
h. January 19, 2025: Officers seized a 30-meter wooden boat loaded with approximately 40,000 liters of stolen crude oil in Obe-Nla, Ondo State.
i. January 20, 2025: The Navy discovered and seized a storehouse with 1,500 liters of illegally refined AGO in Abalama, Rivers State.
j. January 21, 2025: They deactivated an illegal refinery site with a significant amount of stolen crude in Otuwo, Bayelsa State.
k. January 22, 2025: Officers found several illegal refinery sites with eight cooking tanks, eight metal storage tanks, and two reservoirs filled with illegally refined AGO in Ogajama, Rivers State. They also seized five abandoned wooden boats used for transporting stolen crude.
l. On the same day, they seized another wooden boat carrying about 2,500 liters of stolen crude oil in Tuma and Bille, Rivers State.
m. January 23, 2025: The Navy discovered a wooden boat with about 3,000 liters of illegally siphoned crude oil. Additionally, they found an illegal refinery site, two cooking tanks, three metal storage tanks, and two reservoirs in Tuma and Buguma, Rivers State.
n. January 27, 2025: Officers dismantled several illegal refinery sites, six vandalized wellheads, 110 ovens, and 45 reservoirs containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO in Egbema West and Onne, Rivers State. They recovered about 31,000 liters of illegally siphoned crude oil and 15,000 liters of illegally refined AGO.
o. On the same day, they discovered two illegal refinery sites holding approximately 7,500 liters of stolen crude oil and 1,700 liters of illegally refined AGO in Obodo Omadino, Delta State.
p. January 28, 2025: Officers found an illegal refinery site with eight cooking pots, several metal tanks, 15 dugout pits, and a reservoir containing about 3,400 liters of illegally siphoned crude oil in Kubufari, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Conclusion
These operations in January 2025 demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to eradicating crude oil theft. Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reaffirmed that the Navy will continue its fight against maritime crimes in Nigerian waters.