Navy arrests six oil thieves, destroys Illegal refining sites in Bayelsa

The Nigerian Navy has recorded significant successes in its fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta region.

A statement by Commodore Augustine Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, said
between August 29 and September 2, 2024, the Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity seized several boats, destroyed illegal refineries and arrested six suspected oil thieves.

Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Adams- Aliu said seven large Cotonou boats and two fibre boats loaded with crude oil from an illegal loading point around Botokiri axis of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were seized.
on August 29.

He said on August 31, six suspected crude oil thieves were arrested with 109 sacks of illegally refined petroleum products, along with four fibre boats and two wooden boats along Ogboinbiri-Kasama-Azama-Isoni of Bayelsa State

Additional seizures made on September 1 and 2, include two wooden boats, 328 and 35 sacks of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil at Otuogori community river bank in Yenagoa and Gbaraun area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State respectively.

The Navy’s spokesman said the successes recorded demonstrate the effectiveness of Operation Delta Sanity and its commitment to ridding Nigeria’s maritime environment of crude oil theft and enhancing oil production.