Mathew Amaechi
In a crackdown against crude oil theft and economic sabotage, personnel of the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos have dismantled eight illegal refining sites hidden deep within the creeks of the Niger Delta.
The operation, which unfolded over a 12-day period, was part of the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II, aimed at curbing the rampant theft of Nigeria’s oil resources. Speaking to journalists in Warri on Tuesday, Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, said the effort was driven by precise intelligence and a strategic push from the naval high command.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, with the seizure of approximately 16,040 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” Okoloagu said.
The raids targeted Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West Local Government Area and its surrounding creek settlements. During the first operation on May 14, two refining camps were taken down, revealing 5,625 litres of stolen crude stored in one oven and 17 dugout pits.
A second strike on May 19 uncovered another trio of illegal refining sites in the same area. Navy personnel recovered an additional 2,500 litres of stolen crude and 1,650 litres of refined AGO, hidden in 18 polythene sacks, five dugout pits, and an oven.
The final phase of the crackdown came on May 26, when three more refining sites were discovered in Oteghele, another community within Obodo Omadino. There, security forces found 7,915 litres of stolen crude stashed in 21 dugout pits.
“These operations are part of our relentless commitment to dismantling the network of crude oil theft and illegal refining that continues to undermine Nigeria’s economy,” Okoloagu said, crediting the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, for the strategic oversight driving the success of the mission.
Illegal refining has long plagued the Niger Delta region, contributing to environmental degradation, significant revenue losses, and increased volatility in global oil markets. The Nigerian government has stepped up enforcement in recent months to secure national assets and stabilize crude oil production.
“FOB Escravos remains committed to its mandate of disrupting the operations of economic saboteurs and ensuring that Nigeria harnesses the full benefits of its natural resources,” Okoloagu added.
The Nigerian Navy has called on local communities to cooperate by reporting suspicious activities and resisting the lure of illegal refining, which often offers short-term gains at long-term environmental and economic costs.
