The Nigerian Navy has announced significant achievements in its ongoing anti-crude oil theft campaign, Operation Delta Sanity II, for the month of March 2025.
In a statement released over the weekend by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests. He emphasized the Navy’s critical role in curbing crude oil theft and supporting President Bola Tinubu’s directive to boost national oil production.
Highlights of March Operations
The Navy detailed a series of successful operations across the Niger Delta region:
- March 7: A major illegal refinery site was uncovered in Oteghele, Obodo Omadino (Warri South West LGA, Delta State). The site contained 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,000 litres of illegally refined AGO (diesel), 1 oven, 9 dugout pits, and several sacks of illicit products.
- March 8: A large wooden boat transporting 40,000 litres of stolen crude oil was intercepted around the Okrika-Ogajama axis in Rivers State.
- March 9: A vessel, MFT Olokun VIII (IMO No: 8778275), was apprehended on the Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State carrying illegal arms including a G3 rifle, a pump-action gun, 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 7 cartridges. Two suspects were arrested.
- March 10: Three more illegal refinery sites were dismantled in Warri South West LGA, with seizures including 3,700 litres of crude oil and 1,900 litres of refined AGO.
- March 13: In Ohaji/Egbema West, Rivers State, eight illegal refinery sites were raided. The Navy seized 55 ovens, 30 pits, and 12 reservoirs holding over 55,000 litres of crude oil and 4,000 litres of refined AGO.
- March 14: Two wooden boats carrying over 5,000 litres of crude oil were seized on Dodo River, Bayelsa State.
- March 17: A fibre boat with 1,000 litres of crude oil was intercepted around the Bille/Krakrama waterways, Rivers State. That same day, three more illegal refinery sites were neutralized in Warri South West.
- March 20: Two wooden boats siphoning oil from a wellhead were intercepted along Clough Creek and Dodo River, Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa State.
- March 23: Another bust in Warri South West led to the discovery of two illegal sites with 2,700 litres of crude oil and 2,200 litres of AGO.
- March 24: A wooden boat with 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil was seized along Bille and Krakrama creeks, Rivers State.
- March 25: A large wooden boat carrying 100,000 litres of crude oil was confiscated near Egbessan oilfield, Ilaje LGA, Ondo State.
- March 26: A boat loaded with 30,000 litres of refined PMS (petrol) was seized at the Okrika axis in Rivers State.
- March 27: In a combined raid across Ndoni, Ogba, Ohaji, and Egbema West, Rivers State, the Navy uncovered a suspected cultist/kidnapper hideout and deactivated four vandalized wellheads, eight refineries, and other facilities storing about 70,000 litres of crude oil, 25,000 litres of AGO, and 15,000 litres of kerosene.
- March 27 (Ondo): A storage facility with 15 jerrycans of illegally refined AGO was found in Bigimi, Ilaje LGA.
- March 28: An illegal site on Bennet Island, Warri South, was dismantled. Two suspects were arrested during the operation.
- March 30: A refinery with 7,000 litres of crude oil was discovered in Clough Creek, Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa State.
- March 31: The month ended with a major crackdown in Tumburu and Biseni forest, Bayelsa State, where a large refinery operation with 12 ovens and 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil was dismantled.
Ongoing Commitment
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed that it would continue to ramp up its operations to disrupt and dismantle the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals. These efforts are aligned with national economic priorities and the presidential directive to curb crude oil losses in the country.
