The Navy says its Special Forces shut down at least 71 illegal oil refineries and seized over 400,000 liters of stolen crude oil in July.
The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu disclosed this in an update during a briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that these efforts are part of an ongoing campaign called Operation Delta Sanity, aimed at stopping oil theft and protecting Nigeria’s waters from economic sabotage.
According to him, during these operations, the Navy found and destroyed numerous makeshift storage areas and tools used for stealing and refining oil illegally. They specifically took action in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.
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In highlighting their success, Adams-Aliu mentioned that on July 4, they discovered illegal sites with over 66,000 liters of suspected crude oil and 40,000 liters of refined oil. Additionally, on July 14, they made several arrests in Akwa Ibom and Delta States related to smuggling efforts towards Cameroon and found hidden reservoirs filled with stolen crude oil.
He said that on July 22 and 23, operations in the Biseni Community of Bayelsa led to the dismantling of two major smuggling rings, where they recovered over 450,000 liters of crude oil and also intercepted wooden boats used for smuggling petroleum products and arrested six individuals suspected of smuggling.
Adams-Aliu emphasized that under the leadership of Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Navy is committed to stopping oil theft and increasing Nigeria’s oil production. He pointed out that their actions have helped Nigeria’s oil production levels rise to over 1.8 million barrels a day.
He asserted that the Navy remains dedicated to ensuring safety in the maritime region, preventing illegal activities, and supporting the nation’s security.
