Navy intercepts 36,500 litres of stolen crude oil in Bayelsa

Troops of the Nigerian Navy, under the central command, have intercepted stolen crude oil in bags and jerrycans valued at 36,500 litres in various communities in Bayelsa State.

Men of the Nigerian Navy who conducted a cordon-and-search operation between January 22 and 23 and 29, 2024, in its determined effort to stop oil theft in the Niger Delta region, said the operation led to the discovery and deactivation of illegally refined products.

The commander, NNS SOROH, Commodore Olushina Ojebode, told newsmen in Diebu community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, that 17,000 litres of products suspected to have been produced from stolen crude oil in a sack bag, were recovered in a building in the community.

Represented by Capt Suleiman Abdulahi, the executive officer, NNS SOROH, Ojebode added that the operation was in line with the Nigerian Navy’s ‘Operation Delta Sanity’ set up to end oil theft and illegal bunkering.

He also said that Navy’s patrol team deployed at NNS 030, while on patrol at Zion Area of Ezetu community in Southern Ijaw, discovered about 20 sacks of illegally refined automotive gas, equivalent to four drums or 1,200 litres, while 16,500 litres of illegal crude was discovered at Gbaran community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, and another 1,800 litres at Sangana community in Brass Local Government Area.

According to him, the operation, which is aimed at combating crude oil theft, bunkering and other sundry crimes within the country’s maritime environment, has so far recorded tremendous successes, particularly within the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH area of operation.