Saturday, August 9, 2025 - The Nigerian Navy has scored a major victory in its fight against crude oil theft with the deactivation of four illegal refining sites and seizing 124,000 litres of stolen crude oil in the Awokiri area of Bonny Local Council of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by the anti-crude oil theft
team of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB) Bonny on August 5,
2025. According to the Operations Officer of NNFOB Bonny, Lieutenant Commander
Siraj Almustapha, the team discovered the four illegal refining sites situated
next to each other over an area estimated to be about 150 metres long during a
patrol at around 12.55 p.m.
Almustapha stated that the swift action by the naval team led to the
deactivation of the sites and the confiscation of the stolen crude oil.
He noted that the operation is part of the activities and
tasks aimed at actualizing the operational objectives of the Chief of the Naval
Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
He highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s operational objectives
which include routine patrols, anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT), anti-illegal
bunkering, and anti-kidnapping operations, as well as the protection of
critical national infrastructure and securing commercial routes within the
Base’s Area of Operation (AOO).
He further disclosed that the team observed four large metal
tanks with open tops at the mouth of the river, each having a steel pipe
connected to the illegal refining sites.
Upon further assessment, the team discovered that the four
illegal refining sites were active, with fresh suspected stolen crude oil in
dug-out pits and metal tanks.
The team found a cumulative 12 dug-out pits, each containing
an estimated 5,000 liters of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, four
large storage metal tanks, each containing an estimated 14,000 liters of
product suspected to be stolen crude oil, and four large cooking tanks, each
laden with an estimated 2,000 liters of products suspected to be stolen crude
oil
He said: “On Tuesday 5 August 2025 at about 1255, FOB BONNY
anti-Crude Oil Theft Team while on patrol discovered four illegal refining
sites situated serially next to each other over an area estimated to be about
150m long.
“The team further observed four large metal tanks with open
tops at the mouth of the river, each having a steel pipe connected to the
illegal refining sites. Subsequently, the team beach landed for further
assessment.
“Notably, the four illegal refining sites were active as
evidenced by fresh suspected stolen crude oil in dug out pits and metal tanks.
“The sites, the team discovered a cumulative 12 dug out pits
each containing an estimated 5,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen
crude oil, four large storage metal tanks each containing an estimated 14,000
litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and four large cooking tanks
each laden with an estimated 2,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen
crude oil.”
According to him, Other items discovered at the sites
include one pumping machine, steel pipes, and several hoses of varying sizes,
as well as one empty 50-liter jerry can. Cumulatively, an estimated 124,000
liters of products suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered at the
sites.
He said: “Furthermore, it was observed that each cooking
tank was connected to a metal pipe that runs through a metal water tank acting
as coolant through to the large tanks at the river mouth, suspected to be the
loading points.
“Cumulatively, an estimated 124,000 litres of products
suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered at the sites. Pertinently,
this amount of stolen crude oil was denied criminal elements.”
Consequently, Lt Cdr Almustapha asserted that the Base
has activated measures towards denying criminal elements freedom of action
within FOB BONNY area of operation, advising criminal elements in the area to
desist from illegalities and seek alternative as well as legal means of
livelihood.
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