The Nigerian Navy has ramped up its fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, with a successful operation targeting illegal refineries in Delta State. On March 24, Navy personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos conducted a major raid in Oteghele, a community located in the Warri South-West Local Government Area, as part of the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II.
Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, revealed to journalists in Warri that the operation was carried out based on credible intelligence. The raid led to the discovery and deactivation of three illegal refining sites, resulting in the seizure of a substantial amount of stolen crude oil.
In total, the Navy confiscated approximately 2,700 liters of stolen crude oil and 2,200 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), stored in various containers including two ovens, 10 dug-out pits, two drums, and 26 polythene sacks.
Captain Okoloagu emphasized that this operation is part of the Navy’s unwavering commitment to eradicating illegal activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain. This move aligns with the strategic directives set by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to combat oil theft and boost the country’s oil production capacity.
The operation not only underscores the Navy’s continued efforts to tackle the nation’s oil theft crisis but also sends a strong message about the government’s determination to safeguard its valuable resources from illegal exploitation.
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