Navy Recovers N2bn Stolen Crude Oil, AGO in Niger Delta

Kingsley Nwezeh

The Nigerian Navy said yesterday said that operations conducted against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region led to the recovery of stolen crude oil and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) worth N2 billion

A statement issued by naval headquarters in Abuja last night said naval troops recovered hundreds of thousands of litres of stolen crude oil and AGO from oil bunkerers in the last one week.

Giving further details, it said n June 14 2022, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in Rivers State intercepted and seized two wooden boats at Rumoparale within Port Harcourt channel.

It said the boats were laden with about 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

Accordingly, the boats and products were destroyed. Similarly, NNS Victory in Cross Rivers State intercepted and impounded three wooden boats laden with drums of suspected illegally refined PMS around Ikang channel, suspected to be transported to Cameroon.

The boats and products are in custody.  Also, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny in Rivers State intercepted two wooden boats laden with about 400,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Iwokiri. The wooden boats and products were destroyed.

It said that on June 15, 2022, NNS Pathfinder arrested one wooden boat laden with about 450,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO at Choba within Port Harcourt Channel.

“The boat and products were destroyed appropriately. Also, the patrol team located and deactivated an Illegally Refined Site (IRS) which had eight metal storage tanks with about 400,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and four metal storage tanks containing about 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO as well as one metal storage tank filled with about 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined DPK.

“The products were destroyed accordingly. Similarly, NNS Soroh in Bayelsa State intercepted a wooden boat laden with about 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO. The boat and contents were destroyed. Also, a reactivated IRS at Okubotuwo Camp, Brass LGA was discovered with one oven, one dug-out pit, and three  metal tanks cumulatively filled with about 40,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO and 10,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil”, it said. The statement further disclosed that a wooden boat containing unspecified quantity of crude oil was also discovered and  handled appropriately.

“Furthermore, the team located and deactivated another IRS within same vicinity. The site had three metal storage tanks filled with about 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO respectively.

“Additionally, one wooden boat laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil was discovered and handled appropriately. Relatedly, NNS Delta in Warri, Delta State intercepted two speedboats cumulatively laden with about 2000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO around Isaba Community in Warri South LGA”, it said.

Also, the team located and deactivated an IRS around Benett Island in Warri South LGA. The site had 15 metal storage tanks and seven ovens cumulatively filled with about 25,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 100,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

On 16 June 2022, NNS Delta located an IRS around Okpobene Creek in Warri South-West LGA. During the raid, seven ovens and 12 metal storage tanks cumulatively laden with about 120,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and about 190,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO were destroyed.

“Additionally, an IRS around Koh Creek in Warri South LGA with 5 metal storage tanks, two ovens and five pits cumulatively laden with

about 150,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and about 70,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO was deactivated.

“Also, one wooden boat was discovered and destroyed.  FOB Escravos in Delta State located a reactivated IRS at Agor in Warri Southwest LGA. The site had threep pits, eight ovens and 12 metal storage tanks cumulatively filled with about 215,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil which were handled appropriately,” it said.

The statement signed by Naval Spokesman, Commodore Ayo-Vaughan, affirmed that on June 17, 2022, NNS Pathfinder arrested and destroyed a wooden boat laden with about 60,000 litres of illegally refined AGO along Isaka Axis, Port Harcourt Channel.

“Also, NNS Delta seized a tanker and a wooden boat at a jetty around Oghara Market in Ethiope West LGA. The tanker was receiving about 30,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO from the wooden boat. Accordingly, the truck and boat were destroyed. Furthermore, five suspects and a wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO were apprehended under Kiama bridge.”

“Additionally, a Toyota Sienna Vehicle in the same location was seized. The suspects, vehicle and items are currently in the custody of NNS SOROH while the boat was destroyed accordingly.

“In a similar development, an open truck laden with about 500 sacks of suspected crude oil was impounded without its occupants along new expressway in Yenagoa. The truck and its content were also destroyed accordingly.”

“Similarly, an IRS at Emenudong creek, Ataba in Andoni LGA Rivers State was discovered and deactivated. The site had 4 metal storage tanks filled with about 250,000 litres suspected illegally refined AGO. Furthermore, the team discovered and destroyed a barge laden with about 200,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO and 2 wooden boats laden with about 180,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.”

It stated that on June 18, 2022, NNS Pathfinder intercepted and destroyed a wooden boat laden with about 500,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at Mingidukuri River and another wooden boat laden with about 200,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

“Furthermore, on the same day the team discovered an illegal crude oil loading point at Eroton creek, Cawthorne channel with a wooden boat taking in crude oil from a well head.”

“ The boat could not be moved due to safety concerns. However, the base established a guard post at the entrance of the creek to deny miscreants access to the well head. Furthermore NNS Delta located and destroyed a wooden boat laden with about 20,000 litres of illegally refined AGO along Sara Creek in Warri Southwest LGA.”

On June 19, 2022, NNS Delta located three IRS around Opumami Creek in Warri South LGA.

“Accordingly, two metal storage tanks, five ovens and seven dugout pits cumulatively laden with about 120,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed.

Equally, a boat was discovered within the vicinity and was destroyed. On the same day, the Base located and deactivated 2 IRS at Atumakiri. The sites had about 10 ovens and 15 metal storage tanks cumulatively filled with about 450,000 litres suspected illegally refined AGO and 350,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.”

Furthermore, the base intercepted and destroyed a wooden boat laden with unspecified quantity of suspected stolen crude oil in a creek at Adiakwo and Ugbunku.

In another development, Op Calm Waters II (OCW) and Op Tripatite-Joint Border Patrol were sustained during the period under review.

“Accordingly, on June 15, 2022, FOB Igbokoda  in Ondo State intercepted and seized Toyota Camry with and a Nissan Primera along Mahim and Ugbonla junction Ilage LGA of Ondo State.

“The vehicles were discovered to be carrying a total of 84 x 25 litre jerry cans containing illegally refined AGO. The vehicles and products are in the custody of FOB IGBOKODA for further investigation.”