The Nigerian Navy has recorded significant successes in its ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and maritime crimes under Operation Delta Sanity II. Throughout January 2025, multiple arrests and seizures were made across several states, reinforcing the Navy’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s waterways.
According to Director of Information at the Nigerian Navy Commodore A. Adams-Aliu Key operations and findings include:
- January 6, 2025: One wooden boat and a fiber boat carrying approximately 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil were seized near Krakrama, Rivers State.
- January 7, 2025: Nine illegal refinery sites and 20,000 liters of stolen crude oil stored in four large tanks were discovered and dismantled in Obe-Nla, Ondo State. Additional seizures included 1,400 liters of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO), two pumping machines, and two wooden boats.
- January 10, 2025: A medium-sized wooden passenger/cargo boat carrying six 250-liter drums of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was intercepted in Mbo, Akwa Ibom State, leading to the arrest of five suspects.
- January 11, 2025: A militant camp in Opu-Okumbiri, Bayelsa State, was raided, resulting in the arrest of two suspected kidnappers and the recovery of weapons, ammunition, mobile devices, and cash.
- January 12, 2025: A vandalized pipeline connected to a dugout pit containing 20,000 liters of stolen crude oil was discovered in Rivers State.
- January 15-28, 2025: Numerous illegal refinery sites, storage tanks, and boats used for crude oil theft were identified and deactivated across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo states. Notable seizures included a 30-meter wooden boat carrying 40,000 liters of stolen crude, 110 illegal ovens, multiple reservoirs with crude oil, and six vandalized wellheads.
These operations highlight the Navy’s unwavering commitment to eradicating crude oil theft. Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff, reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve to continue tackling maritime crimes and securing Nigeria’s waters.
