Navy chief extends fight against crude oil thieves for 90 days

Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has granted a 90-day extension to the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity, aimed at combating oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.

The operation, which was carried out on January 6, 2024, has yielded a number of significant achievements, including successfully uncovering stolen goods, dismantling illegal oil and gas refining locations, and arresting suspects.

According to Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, in a statement on Wednesday, the operation has deployed personnel, platforms, helicopters and UAVs for aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations. The Chief of Naval Staff, represented by Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira, announced the extension aboard the Nigerian Navy Ship Okpabana in Onne, Rivers State.

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“The successes were immediate and remarkable, including the recovery of a large number of stolen products, the dismantling of an Illegal Refining Site, the arrest of suspects, and the seizure of stolen products,” the statement said.

Rear Admiral Samson Bura, Commander of the Task Force, reported that since the extension in April 2024, a total of 22 suspects have been arrested, 122 Illegal Oil Refinery Sites have been deactivated, 57 vessels and 65 storage tanks have been seized, and a large amount of illegally refined crude oil and Automotive Gas Oil has been seized.

The operational achievements have resulted in the approval of a further 90-day extension, effective July 10, 2024, to continue the fight against oil theft and illegal oil refining activities.

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