The Nigerian Navy has intensified its efforts to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism with a recent operation that uncovered and dismantled three illegal refining sites in Oteghele, a community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The operation, executed on March 24 by personnel from the Forward Operating Base Escravos under Operation Delta Sanity II, was based on credible intelligence, according to, the Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu.
Addressing journalists in Warri on Thursday, Okoloagu detailed the scale of the discovery. “The operation led to the seizure of about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). These were stored in two ovens, 10 dug-out pits, two drums, and 26 polythene sacks,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to eliminating illicit activities within Nigeria’s maritime space, aligning with the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.
Okoloagu further emphasized that such operations are crucial in the fight against oil theft and essential for enhancing the nation’s crude oil output.
