Navy destroys 148 illegal refinery sites, intercepts N10.7bn stolen crude oil in April

The Nigerian Navy says it intercepted N10,701,793,052.5 worth of crude oil products from oil thieves and economic saboteurs in April 2022.

It said most of the products were intercepted during operations in different parts of Bayelsa and Delta State respectively.

The Navy, in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Information, Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said a total of 650,000 litres of Sludge were recovered, 148 illegal refinery sites were deactivated, and 36 wooden boats were destroyed.

The statement read in part, “From April 23 to April 30, 2022, being the fourth week of the Nigerian Navy-led Operation Dakatar Da Barawo, operation bases recorded remarkable achievements.

“Particularly, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH at Yenagoa on April 23 during a patrol of Mbiama, Kiama and Sagbama axis discovered two empty tanker trucks close to Sagbama waterside which is neither a loading site nor a tank farm.

“The 2 two trucks were therefore neutralised. Similarly, the base intercepted a market boat at the Odioma-Diema axis along Akassa- Brass route.

“The boat was laden with over 3,500 litres of suspected crude oil products concealed in drums and gallons which were subsequently evacuated to a riverbank and neutralised accordingly. In a related development, NNS DELTA in Warri on April 25, 2022, deactivated an illegal refining site around Sara creek in Warri South-West LGA.

“In summary, Week 4 of OPDDB witnessed the recovery of over 2,178,500 litres (13,703 barrels) of stolen crude oil, about 787,500,000 litres of AGO and 20,000 litres of Kerosene all valued above N1.7 billion.

“Pertinently, concerning previous seizures and recoveries during OPDDB for the month of April 2022, the Nigerian Navy denied oil thieves and economic saboteurs an estimated N10, 701,793,052.5k worth of crude oil and related products for the period under review.”