One big wooden boat carrying over 160,000 litres of goods thought to be stolen crude oil as well as three illicit refinery installations have been demolished by the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base FORMOSO in Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
ThisDay reported that, this comes shortly after members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited personnel burned 700 kegs holding 21,000 litres of pilfered crude oil in a camp located in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The action is in keeping with the newly initiated action Delta Sanity by the Nigerian Navy, which aims to stop illicit oil theft and bunkering in the marine sector.
This was said by the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, Captain Murtala Rogo, during yesterday’s interactive segment with media.
“We conducted patrols along the Brass River and the Akassa general area. Two illicit refinery facilities loaded with over 85,000 Litres of product thought to be stolen crude oil and a pumping machine were discovered during the patrol in the Bayelsa localities of Elepa and Abonuwa Brass LGA, respectively.
“In the vicinity of Tuluama, Brass LGA, the crew discovered a big wooden boat loaded with around 75,000 litres of product thought to be stolen crude oil, as well as the third illicit refinery plant when searching other nearby waterways.
“Therefore, one enormous wooden boat and the three unlawful refinery sites were handled appropriately.”
Rogo added that although more inquiries were being conducted into the criminal networks connected to the illicit refinery sites, the operation was focused on searching and cleaning creeks, canals, and other locations inside the base area of operations.
He went on to say that the operation was a major step towards achieving Operation Delta Sanity’s goals of stopping illicit oil bunkering and crude oil theft.
He called on the general people to assist the Nigerian Navy in its continuous efforts to bring down the criminal networks by supplying any pertinent information.
The commander highlighted that the Central Naval Command’s Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral S.J. Bura, is leading Operation Delta Sanity, which is steadfastly dedicated to eliminating the evils of illegal oil bunkering, theft of crude oil, and other criminal activities in Nigerian seas.
He continued, “The Nigerian Navy is dedicated to maintaining the security and safety of the Nigerian maritime domain, facilitating a conducive environment for legitimate businesses to flourish and contribute to the strength of the nation, under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.”
In a camp in Ilaje, Ondo state, agents of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps torched 700 kegs holding 21,000 gallons of stolen crude oil.
Following many hours of gunfire with the thieves of crude oil, the unified security force executed the operation early on Sunday morning.
In a statement released yesterday, TSSNL’s Executive Director of Operations and Technical Services, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, said that “TSSNL Commandant in Ondo State, Chief Idowu Asonja, led the joint security operation that, following a tip, discovered the economic sabotage around the western corridor at approximately 8:36 a.m.”
He said that “The massive amount of tainted crude oil that the saboteurs were selling to nearby consumers while keeping it in a sizable, locally constructed reservoir was likely syphoned from the Trans-Escravos pipeline.”
Enisuoh revealed that following the gunfight with NSCDC agents, the suspects running the unauthorized crude oil storage site fled the area in their speed boats after realizing the game was over.
“The trip has been beneficial, but it is also difficult. Our spies in the Awoye region gave us hints on the ongoing heinous deed committed there. The squad commander, Chief Asonja, was reported by Captain Enisuoh as stating, “We shocked the perpetrators because they thought the well-fortified camp was unassailable,” Enisuoh said.
