The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and maritime crimes, destroying illegal refining sites and dismantling militant hideouts across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River states.

This is contained in separate statements issued by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered and dismantled five illegal refining sites in the Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said the sites, located around Egboama-Ogbogolo community, contained about 15 dug-out pits and reservoirs with an estimated 85,000 litres of suspected crude oil and 78,000 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil.

According to him, the products were sourced from a nearby wellhead, while the illegal infrastructure was subsequently destroyed in line with operational procedures.

He added that personnel of NNS SOROH also intercepted equipment used for illegal pipeline connections near the Soku Gas Plant pipeline corridor in Bayelsa State.

Items recovered, he said, included jerrycans, hoses, and pipes used for siphoning petroleum products.

“No arrests were made in both operations as suspects fled on sighting naval personnel,” he said.

In a related development, Mr Folorunsho said that naval troops, in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Army, stormed Dayspring Island along the Calabar–Oron channel in Cross River State following increased cases of kidnapping.

He said the operation, led by NNS VICTORY and the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, forced suspected militants to abandon their camps and flee.

The navy spokesman said troops later discovered and destroyed a militant hideout linked to a notorious suspect known as “Juju,” who escaped during the operation.

He added that two boats fitted with outboard engines were recovered, while one suspected informant was arrested and is currently in custody.

According to him, a 13-hour restriction on maritime movement has been imposed in the area to sustain operational gains and curb criminal activities.

Mr Folorunsho said the operations had significantly degraded the capacity of criminal elements, disrupted their logistics networks, and restricted their movement within the creeks.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining aggressive operations to secure the maritime domain and protect critical national assets. 

(NAN)