Navy intercepts vessels with illicit arms in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Navy has successfully seized several vessels involved in the illegal transportation of arms and stolen crude oil, alongside the dismantling of numerous unauthorized refining sites during its Operation Delta Sanity II in March.

Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Director of Naval Information, provided the update in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Adams-Aliu, on March 7, naval personnel discovered and destroyed an illegal refinery site at Oteghele community in Warri, South-West Local Government Area of Delta. The site contained around 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,000 litres of unlawfully refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Other items recovered included one oven, nine dugout pits, 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO, 13 sacks of stolen crude oil, and one pumping machine.

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On March 8, a large wooden boat carrying 40,000 litres of crude oil was intercepted near Okrika and Ogajama in Rivers. The next day, on March 9, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII, was captured in the Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa, containing illicit firearms including a G3 rifle, a pump-action gun, 20 rounds of 762/51mm ammunition, and seven live cartridges. Two suspects connected to the illegal arms trade were arrested and are set to face prosecution.

Later, on March 10, three more illegal refining sites were discovered and shut down in Warri, Delta. The sites included three ovens, seven dugout pits, and eight sacks containing 3,700 litres of stolen crude oil. Another 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO was also seized.

On March 13, in Ohaji/Egbema West, Rivers, large-scale oil theft was uncovered, including 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs, and 30 dugout pits containing about 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 4,000 litres of illicitly refined AGO.

Further seizures occurred throughout the month, including boats loaded with stolen crude oil, drums, and sacks of illegally refined AGO. On March 20, two wooden boats siphoning crude oil from a wellhead were discovered in Bayelsa, while another raid on March 23 in the Oteghele and Obodo Omadino areas led to the capture of 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined AGO.

Additionally, on March 27, troops located a suspected cultist/kidnappers’ camp, four vandalized wellheads, and eight illegal refining sites in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Among the items found were 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 25,000 litres of illegal AGO.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to intensifying its operations to support Nigeria’s economic stability, particularly in enhancing crude oil production as directed by President Bola Tinubu.