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Tag: illegal refining

  • Navy dismantles 71 illegal refining sites

    Navy dismantles 71 illegal refining sites

    The Nigerian Navy deactivated 71 Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and seized over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil last month.

    In a statement, the Director of Information, Commodore Aiweyor Adams-Aliu, said the successes were recorded by Operation Delta Sanity.

    The Air Component, Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), also  hit terrorists who had converged on the foot of Asola Hills in Yankuzo Ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State for a wedding and killed many of them.

    According to the Navy, last month’s operations led to the discovery and deactivation of 120 dugout pits and illegal refinery camps across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.

    “The coordinated raids resulted in the seizure of about 411,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” Adams-Aliu stated.

    Giving a breakdown of the successes, he said on July 4, Naval personnel uncovered and destroyed six illegal refinery sites around Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni communities in Rivers State. These sites, he said, contained about 66,000 litres of crude oil and 40,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

    “On July 12, another illegal refinery site with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil was deactivated in Otegele, Delta State. On July 14, three suspected smugglers were intercepted in Akwa Ibom State aboard a wooden boat loaded with about 2,500 litres of PMS, reportedly headed for Cameroon.

    In Warri Southwest, Delta State, the troops uncovered an underground reservoir and  pits holding over 7,000 litres of crude oil,” he said.

    The Navy made discoveries made almost daily in various communities in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where its personnel deactivated two illegal refinery sites with about 200,000 litres of stolen crude and refined products. And seven metal ovens, six storage pits, and a massive pond containing more than 250,000 litres of crude oil, said the DINFO.

    Read Also: Navy destroys eight illegal refining sites in Delta

    Similar discoveries were made in Obodo Omadino, Oteghele, and Christian Village areas of Delta State.

    “These significant successes underscore the resilience of the Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to eradicate crude oil theft and contribute to improving Nigeria’s oil production,” Commodore Adams-Aliu added.

    Also, the Air Component, Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), has  hit terrorists who had converged on the foot of Asola Hills in Yankuzo Ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State for a wedding.

    The Army said the airstrikes targeted an assembly of terrorists from the Faskari and Kankara axis of Katsina State, as well as various parts of Zamfara.

    Many terrorists died, while others sustained injuries who were evacuated by their colleagues to Yankuzo village for treatment.

    Troops of 1 Brigade under Sector 2 OPFY launched a follow-up and fought through an ambush laid along the route to the village.

    In a statement, the OPFY Media Information Officer Devid Adewusi said the two separate operations eliminated no fewer than 30 terrorists.

    “Locals and other reliable sources from the area have confirmed that no fewer than 30 terrorists were neutralized during the air interdiction by the Air Component of OPFY and the follow-up operations by ground troops,’’ Adewusi added.

    In addition, four terrorist collaborators from Kunchin Kalgo village in Tsafe Local Government Area were critically injured.

    The successful interdiction has brought  relief to residents of Yankuzo, Tsafe, and neighbouring communities, who have suffered repeated terrorist harassment in recent times.

    The OPFY reassures the people of Zamfara and Northwest of its continued commitment to ensuring peace and security in the zone.

  • Navy uncovers illegal refining sites, seizes over 400,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta

    Navy uncovers illegal refining sites, seizes over 400,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta

    Several illegal refining sites (IRS) with over 400 thousand litres of suspected stolen crude oil products have been destroyed in sustained operations carried out by the Nigerian Navy (NN) in the Niger Delta.

    The service said its Operation Delta Sanity II last month recorded tremendous successes in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states.

    A statement issued at the weekend by the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the successes were recorded between March 7 and 31.

    Summation of the figures indicated that over 324,100 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were found at IRS and recovered from seized vessels, 42,000 litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), 30,000 of Premium Motor Spirit and 15,000 litres of Kerosene.

    Giving breakdown, the Navy said on March 7, an IRS laden with about 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, an oven, nine dugout pits, 15 polythene sacks of illegally refined AGO, 13 sacks of stolen crude oil, and 1 pumping machine was discovered and deactivated around Oteghele community, Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State.

    It said on March 8, the operatives seized a big wooden boat laden with 40,000 litres of crude oil around Okrika and Ogajama in Rivers State, adding that a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO number 8778275 was arrested around Saint Nicholas River, Bayelsa State with illegal arms and ammunition including 1 G3 rifle, a pump action 

    gun, 20 rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition and 7 live cartridges on March 9. 

    “Two suspects linked to the illegal firearms were also arrested and will face prosecution,” the Navy said.

    It said operatives on March 10, uncovered and destroyed three IRS, three ovens, seven dugout pits, eight sacks with 3,700 litres of crude oil, 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South, Delta State.

    Read Also: Troops arrest 43 oil thieves, seize 254,000 litres of stolen products in Niger Delta

    “On Thursday 13 March 2025, a vandalised wellhead, eight Illegal Refinery Sites, 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs and 30 dugout pits with about 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 

    about 4,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Ohaji/Egbema West in Rivers State.

    “On Friday 14 March 2025, two wooden boats laden with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and two drums were seized along Dodo River in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State.

    “On Sunday 16 March 2025, a fibre boat laden with 1000 litres of stolen crude oil was seized around Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers State. On Monday 17 March 2025, three Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, 10 dugout pits, three sacks with about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 18 polythene sacks of about 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area, Delta State.

    “On Thursday 20 March 2025, two wooden boats actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead, two drums of stolen crude oil and a cooking oven were discovered and seized around Clough creek and Dodo river in Ekeremor, Bayelsa State.

    “On Sunday 23 March 2025, two Illegal Refinery Sites, 2 ovens, 10 dugout pits, 13 polythene sacks, 3 drums, with 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Oteghele, Obodo Omadino general area in Warri South, Delta State.

    “On Monday 24 March 2025, a wooden boat laden with 1500 litres of crude oil was seized around Bille and Krakrama creeks, Rivers State.

    “On Tuesday 25 March 2025, a large wooden boat with about 100,000 litres of crude oil was seized around Egbessan oilfield, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    “On Wednesday 26 March 2025, a wooden boat laden with 30,000 litres of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit was seized at Okirika axis in Rivers State.

    “On Thursday 27 March 2025, a suspected cultist/kidnappers camp, 4 vandalised wellheads, 8 Illegally Refinery Sites, 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, 50 dugout pits, with about 70,000 litres crude oil, 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 15,000 litres of illegally refined kerosene were discovered and deactivated around Ndoni, Ogba, Ohaji and Egbema West in Rivers State. 

    “On Thursday 27 March 2025, a storage facility with 15 jerrycans (30 litres) of illegally refined AGO was discovered around Bigimi, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. 

    “On Friday 28 March 2025, an Illegal Refinery Site with several dugout pits and sacks laden with stolen crude oil was discovered and deactivated around Bennet Island, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. Two suspected crude oil thieves were apprehended during the operation. 

    “On Sunday 30 March 2025, an Illegal Refinery Site, 1 oven, and 1 storage tank laden with 7,000 litres of stolen crude oil were discovered and deactivated around Clough creek, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    “On Monday 31 March 2025, an Illegal Refinery Site, 12 refining ovens and 2 dugout pits with 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 5,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were deactivated and seized around Tumburu community and Biseni forest of Bayelsa State.

    “The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, hereby reiterates that the Nigerian Navy will continue to intensify its operations in support of Nigeria’s economic activities, particularly the mandate to improve crude oil production as directed by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

  • Military destroys 43 illegal refining sites, apprehends 32 oil thieves

    Military destroys 43 illegal refining sites, apprehends 32 oil thieves

    Troops of Operation Delta Safe have discovered and destroyed 43 illegal refining sites and apprehended 32 suspected oil thieves.

    The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known to reporters yesterday in Abuja.

    Buba said the feat was achieved in the Niger Delta.

    He explained that troops had maintained momentum against crude oil thieves and recovered large quantities of stolen products.

    He also said the troops recovered 728,360 litres of stolen crude oil, 143,450 litres of illegally refined AGO, 1,100 litres of DPK and 18,750 litres of PMS.

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    He added that the troops also discovered and destroyed 29 dugout pits, 22 boats and 26 storage tanks, among others.

    According to him, the troops apprehended 32 suspected oil thefts and other violent extremists and recovered 13 weapons and 442 assorted ammunition.

    “Other items recovered include 66 cooking ovens, eight vehicles and 43 illegal refining sites, among others.”

    Buba said the troops also raided and apprehended violent extremists/cultists in Uruan and Ovia Northeast Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom and Edo as well as Onelga and Nembe local government areas of Rivers and Bayelsa.

  • JTF uncovers over 50 illegal refining sites in Bayelsa forests

    JTF uncovers over 50 illegal refining sites in Bayelsa forests

    The Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed, ‘Operation Delta Safe (OPDS)’, says it has uncovered over 50 illegal refining sites in the Biseni forests of Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state.

    The commander, OPDS, Rear Admiral John Okeke, who led the operation on Sunday, May 12, said that illegal refining of stolen crude oil was taking place in each of the sites uncovered.

    He said a large dug-out open pit that could accommodate more than 10 trucks of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, was being used to hold crude oil from the distribution points to their cooking sites.

    He recalled that he had earlier warned oil thieves in the area to desist from the illegal business or relocate to another area.

    He equally recalled that on May 9, 2024, the troops were at Ukwa West LGA in Abia state bordering Rivers state and Imo River, he had issued a similar warning for criminals to stop the illegalities

    Okeke said: “Today, like I said, we are not going to relent and it is a work in progress. We will not get tired, we will continue to give criminals hell; we are now in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State.

    “We traversed from Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State to reach this point. The most surprising thing is that this place we are now is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.

    “It is where the thieves operating in this area have decided to be, so smart by connecting what is called theft line made of two inches pipe, a galvanized pipe connecting directly to supply oil line on the road, from a distance of one kilometre.

    “Then they have a lot of funny connections where they have various arrangements of linking multiple connections where each of the oil thieves gets their supply.

     “From a large dug-out open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of AGO, they are holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking sites.”

    Read Also: Anambra Govt vows to seal filling stations over price, metre adjustments

    The OPDS commander called on the public-spirited individuals to continue to volunteer useful information to help the troops apprehend the suspected criminals, saying the troops alone could not do it.

    “Look at the thick forest we are in now, you can never imagine that such serious crime is going on here. If not for the good-spirited individuals that volunteered information, we wouldn’t have known what is happening in the forest,” Okeke stated.

    He advised the criminals to kindly relocate or change their business because troops would not relent in their clearance operations.

    The JTF Commander said his message to those involved in illegality had remained that sooner or later they would catch up with them and deal decisively with them.

    He noted: “It appears that they felt that we are romancing with kid gloves, but I can assure you that it is getting out of hand and we won’t relax on our laurels to curb these illicit activities.

    “I personally will begin to advocate more serious measures to address this challenge, because the country is bleeding. You know the illicit oil activities are doing more harm than good.

    “When you allow such activities to be perpetrated continuously, the legitimate people that engage in crude business will not be able to sell their products because these criminals will be selling at far lower prices.

    “The government needs to gain revenue for developmental purposes that is why we have taken it as a force to continue to fight this battle and we will not back down.”