The successes were made possible by the Chief of Naval Staff’s biting team code-named ‘Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO’ (OPDDB).The squad has made breakthroughs in which over N10 billion worth of stolen crude oil and petroleum products were denied oil thieves by the Nigerian Navy.
According to naval spokesman, Commodore Ayo-Vaughan, weeks 5 and 6 of OPDDB witnessed seizures and arrests of over 6 million litres of products and stolen crude oil including arrest of more than 20 suspects many of whom have been handed over for prosecution.
“Also, FOB ESCRAVOS intercepted 3 speedboats loaded with 136 x 25 litre gallons filled with locally refined AGO amounting to about 5,400 litres.
Major clearance operations are envisaged at identified IRS areas of Kalibiama, Ijawkiri, Atumari and Andoni communities.
Likewise, NNS DELTA on the same day acted on credible intelligence and arrested 4 suspects with 6 trailer trucks around Elume axis in Sapele LGA of Delta State.
Nigerian Naval Base, OPDDB, has intercepted and destroyed a 115hp fibre boat laden with about 1,750 litres of illegally refined AGO around Okwagbe Creek of Burutu LGA. Also, intercepted at Benin River were 6 small wooden boats around Opuama Creek in Warri North LGA loaded with about 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil. In the same development, FOB BONNY commenced swamp buggy operations from Creek 6 where a previously deactivated IRS with a wooden boat was observed to have been reactivated. The FOB raided a newly discovered IRS along Akantu Creek in Warri North LGA on Tuesday 10 May 2022. A total of 15 ovens, 29 metal storage tanks and 3 large pits collectively laden with about 125,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 150,000 litre gallons of stolen crude oil were found at the site. Meanwhile on 12 May 2022, Naval Security Station 022 under NNS PATHFINDER in Rivers State arrested one wooden boat laden with unspecified amount of illegally refined AGO along Cawthorne Channel II, Bille Junction.
A speed boat laden with suspected stolen crude oil and 20,000 litres of suspected refined AGO was intercepted by NNS DELTA at Obodo creek in Warri North LGA of Delta State on 13 May 2022. Items recovered from an IRS at Akpata creek included 2 boats and outboard engines. Another IRS in Koko around Abiala creek in a border town between Koko and Ologbo communities in the same South West LGA was also discovered. Accordingly, the wooden boat and product were neutralized appropriately.
