The Nigerian Navy on Sunday, September 1, 2024, intensified its crackdown on oil theft in Bayelsa State through “Operation DELTA SANITY.” Acting on credible intelligence, a patrol team from the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH discovered and destroyed two criminal hideouts used by crude oil thieves in Ogboinibiri, Bayelsa State.
In a post on it verified social media accounts, the Nigeria Navy said the hideouts contained two large wooden boats loaded with sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
It further stated that during the operation, the Navy patrol team also uncovered an apartment on the riverbank of Otuogori Community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, filled with jerrycans and sacks of illegally refined AGO.
These discoveries underscore the ongoing issue of oil theft and the environmental damage caused by illegal refining activities in the region.
In a coordinated effort, a separate patrol team from the Forward Operating Base FORMOSO seized three large wooden boats laden with stolen crude oil at a loading point in the Botokiri Axis of Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. This area, known for its challenging security dynamics, was found to be operated by armed ex-militants involved in illegal crude oil activities.
The seized boats were discovered at an illegal loading point along a remote creek, highlighting the sophisticated and covert nature of the operations by the oil thieves. The patrol team ensured that the seized boats and stolen crude oil were properly documented and destroyed to prevent further environmental degradation and economic loss.
These operations are part of the Navy’s broader mandate to curb oil theft, protect national resources, and ensure maritime security in the Niger Delta region. The Nigerian Navy, under the directive of its leadership, has been employing advanced surveillance techniques and leveraging local intelligence to dismantle networks of illegal oil operators who are responsible for significant economic sabotage and environmental pollution.
The Navy reiterated its commitment to maintaining the momentum in its anti-oil theft operations, with a focus on dismantling illegal refining sites, apprehending culprits, and collaborating with other security agencies to enforce laws against oil theft.
The Navy has urged communities and local stakeholders to support the efforts by providing timely information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of oil thieves. The ongoing operations are expected to continue with increased frequency and intensity as the Nigerian Navy intensifies its resolve to protect the nation’s critical oil infrastructure and maritime environment from criminal activities.
