Troops of the Nigerian Navy under Operation Delta Sanity II, a military operation against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, have recovered 129,400 stolen crude and destroyed 20 illegal refining sites in January.
The troops also recovered thousands of illegally refined diesel, and weapons from criminal elements.
The Director Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Aliu-Adams disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
He said the success recorded by the troops underscored the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to eradicate crude oil theft and increase the country’s oil production.
Giving details of the operations, Aliu-Adams said on January 6, troops recovered 2,000 litres of stolen crude, one wooden boat and one fibre boat around Krakrama general area in Rivers State.
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The Navy’s spokesman said that the next day, troops destroyed nine inter-linked Illegal refining sites and recovered 20,000 litres of stolen crude concealed in four in huge tanks. He added that on the same day troops recovered 1,400 litres of illegally refined diesel, two pumping machines, two locally fabricated wooden boats at Obe-Nla riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
He said: “On Friday January 10, one medium sized wooden passenger/cargo boat conveying six 250 litre capacity drums filled with illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were seized around Bendero and Uta Uyata general axis in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. In the process, 5 suspects were arrested.
“On Saturday January 11, a militant camp in Opu-Okumbiri, Akassa axis of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was raided and two suspected kidnappers were arrested. Items seized from the suspects include: one AK 56 assault rifle, 3 locally fabricated guns, 5 pump action guns, one foreign double barrel gun, 68 rounds of 7.62/39mm, 6 rounds of 7.62/51mm NATO, 25 shot gun cartridges, 4 empty AK47 rifle magazines, one National Identity Card, one debit card, one MTN sim card, one Itel phone, one Infinix smartphone, a cash sum of 11,500 naira, one chain saw machine, one hand saw and one Airtel pack without sim.”
As troops continue to sustain their successes, Commodore Aliu-Adams said that on January 12 troops recovered 20,000 litres of stolen crude at a vandalized point along Akaso well 14 and 17 flow line at Tuma and Krakrama general area of Rivers State.
He said as troops operation continued on January 15, they destroyed three Illegal refining sites and 20 drums of illegally refined diesel at Azuzuwama Okpuktuari area of Bayelsa State.
According to the Navy’s spokesman, another Illegal refining site with 10 dugout pits, and one wooden boat laden with about 2000 litres of stolen crude were deactivated and seized around Tuma and Bille general area of Rivers State, on January 16.
He said: “On Friday January 17, an Illegal Refining Site with about 2000 litres of stolen crude oil in a dugout pit was deactivated at Ikputukiri camp area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area Bayelsa State, while on Sunday January 19, a 30-meter wooden boat conveying stolen crude oil was seized around Obe-Nla Riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The boat was laden with approximately 40,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
“On Monday 20 January 2025, a store-house with 1500 litres of illegally refined AGO was discovered and seized at Abalama in Rivers State, while on Tuesday January 21, an Illegal Refining Site with a large quantity of stolen crude oil was deactivated at Otuwo area Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.
“On Wednesday January 22, several Illegal Refinery Sites with 8 x cooking tanks, eight metal storage tanks, 2 x reservoirs with large quantities of illegally refined AGO, and a vandalized wellhead were discovered and deactivated around Ogajama area of Rivers State. In the process, five abandoned empty wooden boats used to transport stolen crude oil were seized. On the same day, one wooden boat laden with about 2,500 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered and seized around Tuma and Bille general area of Rivers State.”
Troops onslaught against oil thieves continued on January 23 with Commodore Aliu-Adams said more one wooden boat laden with about 3000 litres of stolen crude oil, one Illegal refining site, two cooking tanks, destroyed at Tuma and Buguma general area of Rivers State.
On January 27, troops destroyed several Illegal refining sites, 45 reservoirs with large quantities of stolen crude and diesel at Egbema West and Onne Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Additionally, some Illegal Refinery Sites with about 31,000 litres of illegally siphoned crude oil, and 15,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were also recovered in the same location,” Commodore Aliu-Adams said
“On the same day, two Illegal Refinery Sites, with about 7,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,700 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated at Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“And on Tuesday January 28, an Illegal refining site with about 8 cooking pots, several metal storage tanks, 15 dugout pits and a reservoir containing about 3,400 litres of illegally siphoned crude oil were discovered and deactivated at Kubufari community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.”