OPERATION DELTA SANITY: Update Om Nigerian Navy Fight Against Crude OIL Theft From 5 -26 February 2024

By Helen Udoh, Outlook media ABUJA.

In furtherance of the Nigerian Navy’s Anti Crude Oil Theft (COT)/Anti-Illegal Bunkering effort under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY, continuous successes have been recorded by the various Nigerian Navy platforms deployed for the Operation through aggressive patrols to combat the menace of Crude Oil Theft and illegal oil bunkering plaguing Nigeria’s Maritime Environment. Resultantly, several Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) metal storage tanks, ovens, wooden boats, dugout pits, fibre boats and pumping machines were appropriately handled as well as the conduct of swamp buggy operations from 5 – 26 February 2024. Resultantly, Forward Operating Base FORMOSO at Bayelsa State, on 19 February 2024, conducted anti- Crude Oil Theft operations around Brass River as well as Akassa, Lagosgbene, Tebidaba and Oyeregbene general area.

In a statement signed by Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan, Director of Information Navy on Friday in Abuja said During the operation, the team discovered one Illegal Refining Site and 2 wooden boats cumulatively laden
with 62.9 barrels (10,000 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil.

Accordingly, the Illegal Refining Sites was dismantled while the boats and products were towed to safe location and handled appropriately.
Relatedly, on 19 February 2024, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations around Aghor-Kutu Community in Warri Southern Local Government Area of Delta State.

During the operations, the team discovered one Illegal Refining Site, 3 ovens, one reservoir, one pumping machine, 10 jerricans and 38 drums laden with 195.9 barrels (31,150 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, the Illegal Refining Site was dismantled while the products were towed to safe location and handled appropriately.
Similarly, Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER, conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations From 20 – 23 February 2024, around Abuloma, Abonnema, Woji, and Taraba jetty in Borikiri, Rivers State.

During the operation, the team raided a car wash used for storing illegally refined products. The team discovered one Illegal Refining Site, 7 ovens, 60 drums and 2 reservoirs laden with about 120,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.

The team also intensified operations around Cawthorne Channel 1 in Bille general area which led to the discovery of a wellhead where crude oil was being siphoned. At the site, one large wooden boat was discovered laden with about 283.0 barrels (45,000Litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Accordingly, all products and their items were towed to safe location s and handled appropriately
Also, on 21 February 2024, Forward Operating Base IGBOKODA, conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operations around Agadagba in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. During the operation, the team discovered 4 wooden boats laden
with 1,200 litres of products suspected to be stolen Automotive Gas Oil. Accordingly, the Illegal Refining Site was dismantled while products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.
On 21 February 2024, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH patrol team while on routine patrol intercepted 2 private vehicles conveying 79 sacks of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil estimated to be 20,000 litres around Okarki general areas of Bayelsa State.

Additionally, the team in conjunction with NSS 030 conducted anti-Crude Oil Theft operation around Egbosuwy general area. During the operation, the team intercepted 5 ovens, 9 drums, 25 iron pipes, one pumping machine and one wooden boat laden with about 1,500 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil. Accordingly, the vehicles and products were towed to a safe location and handled appropriately.

Furthermore, on 22 February 2024, Forward Operating Base BADAGRY patrol team conducted cordon and search operations around Agbojetho Akorin in Lagos State. During the operations, the team discovered 9,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in a building. Accordingly, the products were evacuated to the Base for further investigation.

On 22 February 2024, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team intercepted a large wooden boat from Republic of Cameroon around Uyenghe in Ibaka area, Cross River State. The boat was laden with about 5,100 litres of product suspected to be illegally syphoned Premium Motor Spirit concealed under other utility items. Accordingly, 2 suspects and cargo onboard were handed over to the NSCDC for further investigation and prosecution.
In summary, 3 IRS, 15 ovens, 2 reservoirs, 8 wooden boats and one fibre boat were appropriately handled during the period under review. Additionally, oil thieves were denied about 55,120 bbls (8,764,080 litres) of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, 141,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 9,000 litres of illegally siphoned Premium Motor Spirit amounting to the sum of Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Two Naira Fifty-Eight Kobo (N7,422,792,302.58) only. When the figures of the week under focus are compared with those of the previous week, there is an increase in the number of ovens, wooden boats, vehicles and speed boats while a decrease in Illegal Refining Site (IRS) and reservoirs. However, the number of dugout pits deactivated remain the same. Also, the week under focus witnessed an increase in quantity of crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) denied oil thieves during the period in focus. This gives credence to the effectiveness of Nigerian Navy anti-Crude Oil Theft operations.

Crude Oil       -   55,120 barrels @ $83.61/barrel    = $4,608,583.2

AGO – 141,200 litres @ N1,226.69/litre = N173,208,628
PMS – 9,000 litres @ N610/litre = N5,490,000

Cumulatively, A review of Operation DELTA SANITY from inception
to date revealed that approximately 60,815.77 barrels of crude oil,
worth $5,218,273.569 (N8,129,424,791.45), 557,580 litres of illegally refined AGO worth (N497,486,165.17) and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) worth (N5,592,150). Cumulatively the sum of Eight Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty-Two Million, Five Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Six Naira Sixty-Two
Kobo (N8,632,503,106.62) only that could have been used to perpetrate acts inimical to national security and prosperity was denied oil thieves. Other achievements are outlined as follows:

Arrested Wooden Boats – 51
Illegal Refining Ovens – 104
Reservoirs – 85
Dugout Pits – 288
Deactivated IRS – 41
Fibre Boat – 3
Arrested Vehicle – 1