The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos has destroyed three illegal refining sites in Omadinho Community in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The operation is part of the Navy’s ongoing fight against crude oil theft and economic sabotage.
According to Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, the sites were discovered and deactivated on Tuesday, containing approximately 3,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
The products were stored in five ovens, 12 dugout pits, and 33 polythene sacks.
“The Nigerian Navy’s fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other acts of economic sabotage has yielded another result,” Okoloagu said.
He attributed the success of the operation to credible intelligence under the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II, which aims to curb oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta region.
The Navy has, therefore, reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, which prioritize eradicating illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime space.
Okoloagu warned saboteurs in the oil sector to desist, stating that anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.
The operation comes just days after the Nigerian Navy deactivated four illegal refining sites in the same community last Wednesday.
The Navy has assured that security forces will continue to monitor and disrupt illegal oil operations, ensuring that perpetrators do not operate freely in Nigeria’s oil-producing areas.
The war against crude oil theft is ongoing in the Niger Delta region, with all the armed forces and contracted private security outfits collaborating.
Recently, the Nigerian Army announced the arrest of at least 15 suspects over oil theft and illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta.
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