The Nigerian Navy has stepped up its efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, dismantling a reopened illegal refinery in Rivers State and seizing suspected stolen fuel in Calabar, Cross River State.
Naval Information Director Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho shared these details in a statement released in Abuja on Sunday.
Folorunsho explained that personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, as part of Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery located in the Okolomade Community within the Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He noted that the intervention came after receiving reliable intelligence that a previously shut-down refining site had started operating again.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team sent to the site found that the previously dismantled refining equipment had been rebuilt.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO,” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal setup including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, and newly installed pipes was destroyed following standard operational protocols.
In a separate mission, he said personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory intercepted approximately 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products near the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Calabar.
He mentioned that the seizure was prompted by tips regarding the illegal siphoning of fuel from ships docked at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, quickly moved in and tracked the stolen products to a trailer park inside the port area.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho stated that a closer look led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil kept in drums and jerrycans, which were then moved to the naval base for further processing.
He pointed out that these achievements are in line with the orders from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to increase operations against oil theft and maritime crimes.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.
