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Nigerian Navy on Wednesday disclosed how they have denied oil thief a total of 60,815.77 barrels of crude oil, worth $5,218,273.569 and N8,129,424,791.45 equivalent within one month by Operation Delta Sanity.
Also,557,580 litres of illegally refined AGO worth N497,486,165.17 and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) worth N5,592,150 were prevented from been stolen between 5th February and 26th February, 2024.
However, 51 Wooden Boats were ceased, Illegal Refining Ovens were 104; Reservoirs 85; Dugout Pits 288; Deactivated IRS 41; Fibre Boat three and one vehicle was arrested.
These were disclosed by the Director of Information (DINFO), Nigerian Navy, Rear (N8,632,503,106.62) Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan in a statement in Abuja while giving a review of Operation DELTA SANITY from inception to date.
It was gathered that a cumulative summation of what was denied the criminals stood at N8,632,503,106.62 (Eight Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-Two Million, Five Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Six Naira Sixty-Two Kobo N8,632,503,106.62 only
According to Ayo-Vaughan, “the Nigerian Navy’s Anti Crude Oil Theft (COT)/Anti-Illegal Bunkering effort under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY, under various platforms deployed by the Navy through aggressive patrols to combat the menace of Crude Oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Nigeria’s Maritime Environment, have made remarkable achievements.
As a result, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) metal storage tanks, ovens, wooden boats, dugout pits, fibre boats and pumping machines were arrested and handled appropriately as well as the conduct of swamp buggy operations from 5 – 26 February 2024.
Worthy of note is the Forward Operating Base FORMOSO at Bayelsa State, who on 19 February 2024, conducted anti- Crude Oil theft operations around Brass River as well as Akassa, Lagosgbene, Tebidaba and Oyeregbene general area and discovered one illegal Refining Site and two wooden boats cumulatively laden with 62.9 barrels (10,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
However, the Illegal Refining Sites was dismantled while the boats and products were towed to safe location and handled appropriately.
Also on the 19th February, 2024, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations around Aghor-Kutu Community in Warri Southern Local Government Area of Delta State and discovered one Illegal Refining Site, three ovens, one reservoir, one pumping machine, 10 jerricans and 38 drums laden with 195.9 barrels (31,150 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Similarly, the Illegal Refining Site was dismantled while the products were towed to safe location and handled appropriately.
It was gathered that between 20-23 February, 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER, conducted anti-Crude Oil theft operations around Abuloma, Abonnema, Woji, and Taraba jetty in Borikiri, Rivers State and raided a car wash used for storing illegally refined products.
In addition, the team discovered one illegal refining site, seven ovens, 60 drums and two reservoirs laden with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
Following more intensified operations around Cawthorne Channel 1 in Bille general area which led to the discovery of a wellhead where crude oil was being siphoned, one large wooden boat was discovered laden with about 283.0 barrels (45,000Litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Also, on 21 February 2024, Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA, conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations around Agadagba in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. During the operation, the team discovered four wooden boats laden with 1,200 litres of products suspected to be stolen Automotive Gas Oil.
On 21 February 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH patrol team while on routine patrol intercepted two private vehicles conveying 79 sacks of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil estimated to be 20,000 litres around Okarki general areas of Bayelsa State.
Additionally, the team in conjunction with NSS 030 conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operation around Egbosuwy general area. During the operation, the team intercepted five ovens, nine drums, 25 iron pipes, one pumping machine and one wooden boat laden with about 1,500 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
Furthermore, on the 22 February 2024, Forward Operating Base BADAGRY patrol team conducted cordon and search operations around Agbojetho Akorin in Lagos State, the team discovered 9,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in a building. Accordingly, the products were evacuated to the Base for further investigation.
On 22 February 2024, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team intercepted a large wooden boat from Republic of Cameroon around Uyenghe in Ibaka area, Cross River State.
The boat was laden with about 5,100 litres of product suspected to be illegally syphoned Premium Motor Spirit concealed under other utility items.
Accordingly, teo suspects and cargo onboard were handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.
However, three IRS, 15 ovens, two reservoirs, eight wooden boats and one fibre boat were appropriately handled during the period under review. Additionally, oil thieves were denied about 55,120 bbls (8,764,080 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, 141,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 9,000 litres of illegally siphoned Premium Motor Spirit amounting to the sum of Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Two Naira Fifty-Eight Kobo (N7,422,792,302.58) only.
In summary of the various seizures and frustrated from being stolen include crude Oil – 55,120 barrels @ $83.61/barrel amounting to $4,608,583.2; AGO – 141,200 litres @ N1,226.69/litre amounting to N173,208,628ans PMS – 9,000 litres @ N610/litre amounting to N5,490,000
