The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos has deactivated six illegal refining sites in Obodo Omadina Community, located in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Commanding Officer of the base, Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, revealed this during a briefing with journalists on Monday in Warri, stating that the operations were carried out in three phases, based on actionable intelligence.
He noted that the exercise formed part of Operation Delta Sanity II, in line with the Strategic Directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, aimed at eliminating illegal activities within Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“On April 21, personnel from FOB Escravos discovered and dismantled two illegal refining sites containing approximately 1,900 litres of stolen crude oil stored in two ovens and 10 dug-out pits,” he said.
Okoloagu added that two more sites were uncovered on May 4, yielding 3,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 330 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), which were hidden in 11 dug-out pits and five polythene sacks.
A third operation on May 11 led to the discovery and destruction of another two refining sites, which contained an estimated 3,050 litres of stolen crude and 675 litres of refined AGO, concealed within an oven, seven dug-out pits, and nine polythene sacks.
In total, the Navy seized about 8,660 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,005 litres of illegally refined AGO across the three operations, with the materials stored in three ovens, 28 dug-out pits, and 14 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu issued a stern warning to those engaged in such acts, reiterating the Navy’s commitment to stamping out economic sabotage in the region.
(NAN)