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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its war against crude oil theft in Bayelsa State with the destruction of three illegal refineries.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, destroyed the illegal refineries sites laden with about 50,000L of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
According to the Nigerian Navy the operation was part of Operation DELTA SANITY, aimed at putting an end to illegal oil theft and bunkering activities within the maritime domain.
In a statement signed and issued to newsmen on Wednesday, the Commanding Officer Forward Operating Base FORMOSO, Captain Murtala Aminu Rogo disclosed that operatives of Forward Operating Base FORMOSO, carried out a three days patrol along Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Tebidaba – Brass pipeline.
‘’On 29 January 2024 at about 0845, the Team located one illegal refinery site and a wooden boat laden with about 20,000 litres of product suspected to be crude oil at Galubakiri Creek, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“While in the heat of the patrol, on the same day at about 1130, another illegal refinery site was also located laden with about 17,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil at position Latitude 04°31’51″N Longitude 006°15’58″E around Mbiakpaba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
“Accordingly, in line with the extant Rules of Engagement, both illegal refinery sites and the boat were appropriately handled,” Rogo said.
He further stated that the Team conducted patrol around Obama, Igbikiba, Igbomotoru, and Tebidaba General Area where two wooden boats with remnants of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were intercepted at Diebu Creek, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Rogo also added that while combining other creeks around the pipeline, the Team discovered another illegal refinery site laden with about 15,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and 5 locally made iron ovens at Biabagbene Southern Ijaw LGA.
“Pertinently the illegal refinery site was handled appropriately while the ovens were dismantled accordingly”. he stated.
The Commanding Officer, affirmed that the ‘’operation is geared towards combing and clearing creeks, and channels as well as other places within the Base Area of Operations’’
He pointed out that further investigations into the criminal networks associated with these illegal refinery’s sites are on-going.
Rogo declared that the operation marks a significant step in actualising the objectives of Operation DELTA SANITY which are to combat Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering.
He stated that under Operation DELTA SANITY, the Nigeria Navy has come all out and is poised more than ever to rid the Niger Delta of crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in line with the strategic directives of the CNS, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Rogo enjoined the public to cooperate with the Nigerian Navy by providing any relevant information that would aid in the ongoing efforts to dismantle these criminal networks.
