By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Navy has cracked down on crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, seizing stolen crude, intercepting arms, and dismantling refinery sites in March under Operation Delta Sanity II.
The month-long effort also nabbed vessels with illegal weapons and thousands of litres of illicit petroleum products.
Navy spokesman Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu shared the details on Saturday. He said the operations aimed to curb oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and arms trafficking, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s push to boost crude oil production and security.
On 7 March, troops destroyed an illegal refinery in Oteghele, Warri South-West, Delta State, holding 5,500 litres of stolen crude and 2,000 litres of refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), plus an oven, nine dugout pits, and sacks of products. The next day, a wooden boat with 40,000 litres of crude was seized near Okrika and Ogajama, Rivers State.
On 9 March, the Navy arrested the vessel MFT Olokun VIII (IMO No: 8778275) near Saint Nicholas River, Bayelsa State. It carried a G3 rifle, a pump-action gun, 20 rounds of 7.62/51mm ammo, and seven cartridges. Two suspects face prosecution.
On 10 March, three refinery sites in Obodo Omadino, Delta State, were dismantled, yielding 3,700 litres of crude and 1,900 litres of AGO from ovens, pits, and sacks. On 13 March, a major haul in Ohaji/Egbema West, Rivers State, uncovered a vandalised wellhead, eight refinery sites, 55 ovens, and 30 pits with 55,000 litres of crude and 4,000 litres of AGO.
The Navy kept up the pace. On 14 March, two boats with 5,000+ litres of crude were caught along Dodo River, Bayelsa. On 15 March, a fibre boat with 1,000 litres was seized in Bille/Krakrama, Rivers. On 17 March, three more sites in Obodo Omadino held 2,700 litres of crude and 1,900 litres of AGO.
On 20 March, two boats siphoning crude from a wellhead in Clough Creek, Bayelsa, were stopped, with two drums and an oven seized. On 23 March, two sites in Oteghele and Obodo Omadino yielded 2,700 litres of crude and 2,200 litres of AGO. On 25 March, boats with 1,500 litres in Bille/Krakrama and 100,000 litres near Egbesan, Ondo State, were impounded, alongside 30,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Okrika, Rivers.
The month peaked on 27 March in Bigimi, Ilaje, Ondo State. Troops found a cultist and kidnappers’ camp, four vandalised wellheads, and eight refinery sites with 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, and 50 pits containing 70,000 litres of crude, 25,000 litres of AGO, and 15,000 litres of kerosene. Nearby, 15 jerrycans (30 litres each) of AGO were uncovered.
Adams-Aliu stressed the Navy’s resolve. “The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, 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 President Bola Tinubu,” he said. He added that such efforts protect the maritime domain and deter crime in the oil-rich region.