Navy destroyed 19 illegal refineries, arrested eight for oil theft in Niger Delta: Official

The Nigerian Navy Units, under the auspices of Operation Delta Sanity, have destroyed several illegal refining sites and apprehended eight suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement on Friday, the director of navy information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said the operations were conducted from September 2 to 23.

He said the troops had, on September 2, destroyed one illegal refining site with two wooden boats and 28 sacks laden with product suspected to be illegally refined diesel in the Isonogbene, Ogboinbiri and Kasama-Azama-Isoni axis in the South Ijaw Local Government Area of  Bayelsa.

Mr Adams-Aliyu added that three wooden boats and a one-speed boat laden with stolen crude oil and illegally refined diesel were seized around Brass River, Nembe, Botokiri community in Bayelsa on September 4.

According to him, two illegal refinery sites with two ovens, two reservoirs, one dugout pit and two wooden boats laden with stolen crude oil were seized and destroyed around Bonny Channel, Sobikiri, Adamakiri, Eferwarie and Isaka general area of Rivers on September 5.

“On September 9, two active illegal refining sites with one wooden boat, two ovens, three dugout pits and four drums laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Okporoza Creek and Tibo community in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta.

“On September 10, a newly constructed illegal refinery site, one reservoir and one dugout pit laden with stolen crude oil were destroyed and seized at Odo-Bioku within Awoye Riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“On September 12, two suspected sea robbers were arrested in their camp in Effiat community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom,” he said.

Mr Adams-Aliu said several illegal refining sites and stolen crude oil were seized and destroyed across other locations in the region during the period under review.

“Cumulatively, eight suspects, 19 illegal refining sites, 25 wooden boats, 138 sacks laden with stolen crude oil, 26 reservoirs, 19 ovens, 12 dugout pits, four drums and three fibre boats were arrested and seized during the 21-day period.

“The Nigerian Navy will continue to sustain the tempo of Anti Crude Oil Operations to deny oil thieves freedom of action, especially in the Niger Delta region, for enhanced crude oil production towards improved economic development of our nation,” he added.