Oil theft: Navy arrests 23 vessels, destroys 703 illegal refining sites in one year

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said between January and December 2023 the Nigerian Navy arrested 23 vessels, 232 suspects engaged in crude oil theft and destroyed 703 illegal refining sites.

He said the Navy also arrested five barges, 690 cotonou boats laden with stolen crude, 116 speed boats and 82 vehicles/trucks.

The CNS who disclosed this at a meeting with principal staff officers, flag officers commanding and base commanders in Abuja on Friday added that the Navy seized 803, 353.20 barrels of crude worth over N105bn from economic saboteurs.

He listed some of the vessels arrested to include MT Marine Express, MT Cecilia, MT Ufuoma, MT Vigor I, MV Barge Ayeba Eneni, FT Lamu I and MT Vinnalaris I Lagos, among others.

“Arising from these, 46, 369,219 Litres of AGO, 2,472,200 litres of DPK and 438, 886 litres of PMS were recovered. Similarly, the NN recovered 803, 353.20 barrels of crude oil.

“At current market values, the seizures translate to about N105bn.

“Additional the NN has been active in the fight against illicit-drugs trafficking especially within the maritime domain. Between April and November 2023, the NN arrested 692 bags of Cannabis Sativa, worth about One Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand Naira. The products have since been handed over to the NDLEA as required by law,” he said.

The CNS said the arrests and seizures were not just isolated successes but achievements recorded as a result of deliberate strategic policy formulation, operational implementation and tactical execution.

He, however, cautioned personnel not to be lulled into complacency.

“The criminals we combat are adaptable and ruthless. They will change their tactics, seek new routes and employ new technologies. It is our duty to stay ahead of the curve, to anticipate their moves, and to counter them with greater resolve,.

“This is why I charge you all to, with renewed vigour, utilize all available resources to anticipate criminal activity and disrupt their operations before they can even begin. Saturate the waters with credible presence. Let every illegal vessel know that they will be hunted down, intercepted, and brought to justice,” he said.

Ogalla also declared that the Nigerian Navy under his watch has zero tolerance for oil thieves and vowed to deal with any officer or rating found colluding with criminal elements.

He assured of his committment to providing the resources and leadership needed to defeat crude oil theft in the nation’s maritime domain.

Ogalla commended President Bola Tinubu for providing the resources and moral support needed by the Nigerian Navy to prevail.

“With the support of Mr. President, we are working tirelessly to equip you with the tools to dominate the maritime domain – faster boats, advanced surveillance technology and robust intelligence networks. But resources alone are not the answer: The NN needs your unwavering commitment, strategic brilliance and steadfast courage.

“You must also be accountable for the resources entrusted to you. Your ability to efficiently utilize the resources at your disposal to achieve best results will single you out as a commander worthy of trust and emulation.

“Each of you holds within you the power to turn the tide. Let history remember this era as the time when the NN, under your command, turned the tide against crude oil theft and other forms of maritime crimes, thereby securing a brighter future for our nation, ” he said.