Nigerian Navy Escalates Efforts Against Crude Oil Theft, Arrests Six Suspects in Niger Delta Operations
The hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday, stated that troops of Operation Delta Sanity, in collaboration with naval units in Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo states, have intensified their coordinated clampdown on crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta region. The leadership of the navy also said the troops apprehended no fewer than six suspected crude oil thieves during a three-day coordinated anti-crude oil operation. A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, revealed that two of the apprehended oil thieves were part of the fleeing murder suspects who killed three soldiers on 11 June 2024, while attacking the SEEPCO oil facility at Oguikpele Community in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State. The suspected felons, he said, were nabbed by personnel of the Naval Outpost ONITSHA during an operation within the period under review. Adams-Aliu noted that in a series of simultaneous operations conducted from 20 to 22 April 2024, under the auspices of the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity, naval units in Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo States clamped down on crude oil thieves, as detailed below: “On Sunday, 20 April 2025, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH apprehended four suspected pipeline vandals with tools used for vandalising pipelines around the Renaissance Africa Energy Company pipeline at River-Kolo Creek, Bayelsa State. “On Monday, 21 April 2025, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS discovered and deactivated two illegal refinery sites with two refining ovens and 10 dugout pits laden with large amounts of stolen crude oil in Oteghele, Obodo Omadino Community, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State. “Also on Monday, 21 April 2025, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH intercepted and impounded two vehicles laden with several sacks of illegally refined products in OlodoCommunity, Bayelsa State. On Tuesday, 22 April 2025, Naval Outpost ONITSHA apprehended two suspects with a locally made rifle and 10 machetes.” Noting that the suspects were in the process of attacking the SEEPCO oil facility in Oguikpele Community, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State, the naval spokesperson said that“investigation also revealed that these suspects were allegedly involved in the attack and killing of three soldiers on 11 June 2024.” He said the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA, on Tuesday, 22 April 2025, discovered and deactivated two illegal refinery sites with nine dugout pits, several sacks and drums laden with large amounts of illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil in BernnetIsland and Obodo Omadino Community, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State. He added that in the three-day coordinated anti-crude oil theft operations, a total of six suspects were arrested, while four illegal refinery sites and nine dugout pits were deactivated, and two vehicles were seized. The operations, he said, underscored the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to rid the maritime domain of crude oil thieves and other nefarious elements, as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel IkechukwuOgalla.
Admin | 2025-04-26 09:31:02