Navy nabs 392 crude oil thieves, recovers 8.1m barrels in 4 years

A total of 8.1m barrels of stolen crude oil 86,500 MT of illegally refined AGO were recovered by operatives of the Nigerian Navy during various operations in the last four years. Also, a total of 392 suspected oil thieves were arrested and 120 Barges and deactivated 1,528 illegal refining sites were destroyed within the period […]

A total of 8.1m barrels of stolen crude oil 86,500 MT of illegally refined AGO were recovered by operatives of the Nigerian Navy during various operations in the last four years.

Also, a total of 392 suspected oil thieves were arrested and 120 Barges and deactivated 1,528 illegal refining sites were destroyed within the period under review.

Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed the figures to journalists on Monday at Naval headquarters while giving an update on activities of the maritime force.

Ogalla, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, said the troops also arrested 181 speedboats; 1,453 wooden boats laden with stolen products, 118 vehicles and destroyed 8,790 storage tanks.

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“In the past 4 years, the Nigerian Navy has confiscated over 8.1 million barrels of stolen crude oil, 86,500 MT of illegally refined AGO, 788,312 litres of illegally sourced PMS and about 21 million litres of Kerosene. Other arrests include 120 barges, 181 speed boats, 1,453 wooden boats laden with stolen products as well as 118 vehicles conveying stolen petroleum products.

“During the period, the Nigerian Navy deactivated over 1,528 illegal refining sites and 8,790 storage tanks, and arrested 392 suspected oil thieves,” the top military officer told Defence Correspondents.

The CNS said despite these sterling performances, there have been misrepresentations in certain quarters aimed at tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Navy.

“These misrepresentations are peddled by mischief makers whose freedom of action in oil theft were severely degraded by the Nigerian Navy.

‘Despite disruptions by these unpatriotic elements, the Nigerian Navy has remained critical in the success of several strategic initiatives such as the Presidential Crude Oil Barging Regime.

“For instance, an alarm of crude oil theft on MT PRAISEL in August 2023 at Escravos in which the Navy was alleged to have been involved was proven to be false,” he added.

Ogalla stressed that the Navy has a strict disciplinary system to deal with personnel involved in sabotage in line with the Armed Forces Act.

“Mindful of the possibility of certain bad eggs within, the Nigerian Navy has strict disciplinary systems to deal with such personnel in line with the Armed Forces Act,” he said.

The Naval Chief noted that some gallant personnel of the Navy have in the course of these operations paid the supreme price while fighting oil theft.

He lamented that false allegations led to arrests and detention of vessels which were later found to be cleared for conveying such contents.

“These false accusations were not backed by evidence, but primarily designed to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Navy and dampen the morale of personnel involved in anti-oil theft operations. In addition, the perpetrators of these false alarms inflict unwarranted disruptions in legitimate business in the oil industry.

“This is detrimental to the ease of doing business in Nigeria’s oil sector and negates Mr President’s desire to increase investment in the oil industry.”