No fewer than six suspected oil thieves have been arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Navy in Bayelsa State.
The suspects were arrested with 109 sacks of illegally refined petroleum products, four fibre boats and two wooden boats along Ogboinbiri-Kasama-Azama-Isoni of the state.
In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Navy also said several illegal refining sites were destroyed during a series of operations conducted between August 29 and September 2, 2024, by the operatives of the service deployed to the Niger Delta region.
He said, “From Thursday 29 August to Monday 2 September 2024, Nigerian Navy Units under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY recorded significant successes against Crude Oil Theft and destroyed Illegal Refining Sites in the Niger Delta. Some of the successes recorded within the five-day period were as follows:
“On 29 August, 7 large Cotonou and 2 fibre boats operated by heavily armed oil thieves loading crude oil from an illegal loading point around Botokiri axis of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State were seized.
“On 31 August, 6 suspected crude oil thieves with 109 sacks of illegally refined petroleum products, 4 fibre boats and 2 wooden boats were arrested and seized along Ogboinbiri-Kasama-Azama-Isoni of Bayelsa State.
“On 1 September, 2 wooden boats and 328 sacks of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil were seized at Otuogori community river bank in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
“On 2 September, 35 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in a wooden boat were seized at Gbaraun area of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.”
Adams-Aliu said the success recorded during the operations was a testament to the service’s commitment to curbing oil theft in the country.
He said, “These successes indicate the effectiveness of Operation DELTA SANITY, and the resolve of the Nigerian Navy to sustain current efforts to rid Nigeria’s maritime environment of the menace of crude oil theft and enhance crude oil production.”