The Nigerian Navy says its teams operating under Operation Delta Sanity II discovered and destroyed several illegal refining sites and impounded 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil in January.

This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday.

It said the navy’s unwavering commitment to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain and eradicate crude oil theft yielded significant operational successes under the ongoing operation.

He said the team had, on January 6, apprehended one wooden and one fibre boat laden with about 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil around Krakrama general area in Rivers.

He explained that nine interlinked illegal refinery sites and 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil in four huge tanks, with an additional 1,400 litres of illegally refined AGO, were captured on January 7.

The naval spokesman said two pumping machines and two locally fabricated wooden boats were also discovered, deactivated and seized at the Obe-Nla riverine community in Ilaje LGA of Ondo.

According to him, one medium-sized wooden passenger/cargo boat conveying six 250-litre capacity drums filled with illegally refined petrol was seized during the month, while five suspects were arrested.

“On January 11, a militant camp in Opu-Okumbiri, Akassa axis of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, was raided and two suspected kidnappers were arrested.

“Items seized from the suspects include: one AK 56 assault rifle, four locally fabricated guns, five pump action guns, one foreign double barrel gun, 68 rounds of 7.62/39mm, and six rounds of 7.62/51mm NATO.

“Also recovered are 25 shotgun cartridges, four empty AK-47 rifle magazines, one National Identity Card, one debit card, one MTN sim card, one Itel phone, one Infinix smartphone, among others,’’ he said.

Mr Adams-Aliu said that a vandalised point along Akaso well 14 and 17 flow line connected to a dugout pit with about 20,000 litres of stolen crude was discovered at Tuma and Krakrama general area of Rivers.

He said the troops also uncovered and destroyed several illegal refinery sites with large quantities of stolen crude oil in Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo and Delta states during the month.

“These successful operations in January underscore the Nigerian navy’s commitment to eradicate Crude oil theft.

“The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, hereby reiterates that the Nigerian Navy will continue to work assiduously to eradicate maritime crimes in Nigerian waters,’’ he said.

(NAN)