The Nigerian Navy said on Tuesday that it’s destruction of a total of 23 Illegal Refinery Sites, 30 ovens, 26 reservoirs and others achievements recorded in October through it’s units under Operation DELTA SANITY significantly contributed to the increase in crude oil production.
Nigerian National Petrolum Corporation Limited Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyria announced recently that Nigeria’s Crude oil production has rose to 1,8mbd in the month of October 2024.
Attributing the increase to the efforts of security agencies particularly the armed forces that is waging war against crude oil thieves, the director of information Nigerian Navy, Commodore A. Adams – Aliu said Nigerian Navy Unit recovered significant quantities of stolen crude oil from criminals in the Niger-Delta.
He said a total of 77 sacks, 19 dug out pits, 21 wooden boats, 4 jerry cans, 2 pumping machines, large quantities of crude oil and AGO were successfully recovered during various operations carried out by the Nigerian Navy within the month of October.
“Nigerian Navy Units under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY destroyed several Illegal Refining Sites and recovered significant quantities of stolen crude oil from criminals in the Niger-Delta.
“The successes recorded in the month of October 2024 include: a raid on October 8, 2024, that led to the destruction of three Illegal Refinery Sites, 15 ovens, 12 reservoirs, 5 dugout pits and 2 wooden boats laden with about 12,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil which was discovered around Bakana River, Bukuma axis and Ogaji-Ama of Rivers State.
On October 9, 2024, one suspect with one locally made pistol was arrested with 3 cases of ammunition while 3 Illegal Refinery Sites as well as 5 reservoirs, 2 ovens, one dugout pit, 2 wooden boats cumulatively laden with
about 900 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered around Otuwo and Ogboinbiri general area of Bayelsa State.
On October 11, 2024, five Illegal Refinery Sites with 4 ovens, 3 reservoirs and few sacks cumulatively laden with about 4,000 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered around Ugbokodo and Christian village in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
While on same October 11, 2024, a market boat laden with about 2,200 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in jerry cans and sacks were discovered at Idi-Ogba, Ondo State.
He said that on October 12, 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site with 2 ovens and one dugout pit laden with suspected stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Isonogbene, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
While, one fibre boat laden with illegally refined AGO concealed in 30 sacks was discovered and destroyed around Ezeh-Gbene, Tamagbene, and Igbomotoru axis in Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State on October 12, 2024
On October 14, 2024, three Illegal Refinery Sites, 2 reservoirs
and 3 wooden boats laden with about 8,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and destroyed around Cawthorne channel, Bille, Bukuma, Tombia, Old Bakana and Krakrama axis of Rivers State.
On same day October 14, 2024, a wooden boat laden with about 30,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was discovered around Shell and adjoining creeks in Rivers State.
In continuation of the fight on October 16, 2024, three Illegal Refinery Sites, one reservoir, one oven, 65 sacks, 4 jerry cans and 4 wooden boats laden with unspecified quantity of product suspected to be stolen crude oil was seized around Kongho and Otuwo Igbomotoru general area of Bayelsa State.
The troops on October 21, 2024 ran into five large wooden boats laden with about 48,300 litres, of product suspected to be illegal refined AGO stored in a house and a barge conveying a Crane and other equipment used for stealing oil product were discovered around Akpila, Bakana and Buguma axis river in Rivers State.
On October 22, 2024, a large wooden boat laden with about 70,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered and destroyed around Asamatoro community along Opobo riser general area of Rivers state.
While on October 23 , 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site, one oven, 9 dugout pits, one fibre boat laden with about 50,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were seized around Odioma axis of Brass Local Government Area in Delta state.
On same October 23, 2024, around Obodo Omadino community at Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State troops discovered and destroyed two Illegal Refinery Sites, 2 ovens, 2 reservoirs and 13 dugout pits cumulatively laden with product suspected to be stolen crude oil and about 7,300 liters of illegal refined AGO.
The following day October 24, 2024, one Illegal Refinery Site, 3 ovens, 2 pumping machines, with about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 600 litres of illegally refined AGO in jerry cans were discovered and destroyed around Obenla Riverine Community of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Accordingly, the sites and products were handled appropriately.
Similar operations on October 26, 2024, resulted in discovery of one Illegal Refinery Site, one reservoir, 15 sacks laden with about 1,500 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil
and 900 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil around Otuwo general area of Bayelsa State. Accordingly, the Illegally Refinery Site and products were handled appropriately, the director added.