In continuation of its onslaught against oil thieves and economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Navy (NN) yesterday said 23 illegal refining sites were dismantled last month.
It said the destruction of the sites was carried out by naval units under Operation Delta Sanity, a joint security taskforce to stamp out pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.
A statement by the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said significant quantities of stolen crude oil were recovered from criminals in the Niger-Delta, adding that the operations were conducted from October 8.
“On October 8, three illegal refinery sites, 15 ovens, 12 reservoirs, five dugout pits and two wooden boats laden with about 12,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered and destroyed around Bakana River, Bukuma axis and Ogaji-Ama of Rivers State.
“On October 9, one suspect with a locally made pistol was arrested with three cases of ammunition while three IRS as well as five reservoirs, two ovens, one dugout pit, two wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 900 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered around Otuwo and Ogboinbiri general area of Bayelsa State.
“On October 11, five Illegal Refining Sites with four ovens, three reservoirs and few sacks cumulatively laden with about 4,000 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered around Ugbokodo and Christian village in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
“Also on October 11, a market boat laden with about 2,200 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in jerry cans and sacks were discovered at Idi-Ogba, Ondo State.
“On October 12, one IRS with two ovens and one dugout pit laden with suspected stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Isonogbene, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“The same day, a fibre boat laden with illegally refined AGO concealed in 30 sacks was discovered and destroyed around Ezeh-Gbene, Tamagbene, and Igbomotoru axis in Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State.”
Continuing Adams-Aliu said three IRS sites, two reservoirs and three wooden boats laden with about 8,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and destroyed around Cawthorne channel, Bille, Bukuma, Tombia, Old Bakana and Krakrama axis of Rivers State on October 14.
“On October 14, a wooden boat laden with about 30,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered around Shell and adjoining creeks in Rivers State.
“On October 16, three Illegal Refining Sites, one reservoir, one oven, 65 sacks, four jerrycans and four wooden boats laden with an unspecified quantity of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were seized around Kongho and Otuwo Igbomotoru general area of Bayelsa State.
“On October 21, five large wooden boats laden with about 48,300 litres, of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO stored in a house and a barge conveying a Crane and other equipment used for stealing oil products were discovered around Akpila, Bakana and Buguma river in Rivers State. The following day, a large wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Asamatoro community along Opobo riser general area of Rivers state.
“On 23 October 2024, one Illegal Refining Site, one oven, nine dugout pits, one fibre boat laden with about 50,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were seized around Odioma axis of Brass Local Government Area in Delta state.
“The same day, two IRS, two ovens, two reservoirs and 13 dugout pits cumulatively laden with products suspected to be stolen crude oil and about 7,300 liters of illegally refined AGO were discovered and destroyed around Obodo Omadino community at Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.