Navy Destroys Five Illegal Refineries in Fresh Niger Delta Crackdown
By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE
THE Nigerian Navy has destroyed five illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta as part of intensified operations against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. The action was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos during a series of coordinated raids in November.
Commanding Officer, Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, disclosed the development on Monday, stating that the operations formed part of Operation Delta Sanity II, a broader campaign to curb economic sabotage in the region. He confirmed that naval operatives recovered approximately 13,350 litres of stolen crude oil from 30 dugout pits and three polythene sacks.
According to Okoloagu, the first phase of the operation took place on 5 November, when two illegal refining sites were dismantled at Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West LGA, yielding about 4,000 litres of stolen crude. A third site at the same location was deactivated on 14 November, with 3,850 litres recovered. Two additional sites were taken down on 19 November, producing another 5,200 litres of stolen crude.
He said the successes were driven by “credible intelligence” and aligned with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who has emphasised sustained pressure on oil thieves.
Okoloagu affirmed that FOB Escravos remains committed to intensifying crackdowns to protect national oil assets and boost Nigeria’s daily crude output.
The operation comes on the heels of a similar crackdown by the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division, which announced the arrest of 14 suspected oil thieves and the dismantling of 14 illegal refineries earlier in November.
