As part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and illegal refining, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER successfully intercepted and impounded a large wooden boat carrying a substantial quantity of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Abonema Wharf in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The operation was conducted under the Navy’s Operation DELTA SANITY, which targets oil-related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
The interception followed routine surveillance and intelligence-gathering aimed at curbing the increasing activities of oil thieves who continue to sabotage the nation’s economy. The wooden boat, commonly referred to as a “Cotonou boat,” was found loaded with several drums of the illegally refined product, which had been prepared for distribution.
This latest seizure underscores the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to eradicating illegal refining and oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. Commodore Salihu Inuwa, the Commander of NNS PATHFINDER, highlighted the strategic importance of the operation, stating that the Navy will remain relentless in its pursuit of oil criminals who undermine the nation’s resources.
“The impoundment of this vessel is a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to protect Nigeria’s economic assets,” Commodore Inuwa said. “We will continue to maintain aggressive patrols and engage in intelligence-driven operations to disrupt the activities of these criminal elements.”
The boat, along with its cargo of PMS, has been secured, and investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the illegal operation. This action comes amid increased naval patrols and operations designed to enhance maritime security in the region, particularly along vital waterways used by oil thieves.
This is not an isolated incident. In recent months, the Nigerian Navy has intensified its operations across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States to clamp down on illegal oil refining activities that contribute to environmental degradation and economic loss. Illegal refineries and bunkering sites are frequently discovered in remote creeks, where stolen crude oil is processed into refined products such as PMS and diesel.
The Navy’s Operation DELTA SANITY has led to numerous successes, including the deactivation of illegal refining sites, arrest of suspects, and recovery of stolen products. Commodore Inuwa reaffirmed that these efforts will be sustained, with increased collaboration with other security agencies, to ensure that the Niger Delta region becomes increasingly hostile for oil thieves and economic saboteurs.
The Nigerian Navy, through joint operations with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant authorities, continues to protect the nation’s maritime environment while safeguarding critical national assets, particularly oil and gas infrastructure.
As the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering intensifies, the Navy has called on local communities to support the effort by providing timely information that will aid in the detection and neutralization of illegal operations. Inuwa further assured the public that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to its constitutional mandate of securing Nigeria’s territorial waters and ensuring the protection of its maritime economy.
