Navy Deactivates 468 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 215 Oil Thieves in 2024
According to Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu, the Nigerian Navy has deactivated 468 illegal refinery sites and arrested no fewer than 215 suspected oil thieves in 2024.
Dewu made this disclosure on Monday in Abuja during a press briefing ahead of the Navy’s 69th Anniversary celebrations, known as Navy Week, scheduled to hold from May 23 to June 1.
Also Read: How Nigeria Lost ₦16.25 Trillion to Crude Oil Theft in 12 Years
Providing a breakdown of recent operations under Operation Delta Sanity, Dewu revealed that 26 vessels and 361 wooden boats were seized, along with 1,107 dugout pits and 279 storage tanks destroyed.
He said the Navy recovered over 6.5 million litres of stolen crude oil and seven million litres of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil.
“Also, 39 wooden boats and one ship involved in this menace were also seized,” he stated.
Dewu added that 103 illegal refining sites were dismantled this year alone, with 34 more suspects arrested and approximately 773,000 litres of crude oil and 150,000 litres of refined products recovered.
“All these efforts have impacted positively on Nigeria’s crude oil production, in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to eradicate crude oil theft in order to ramp up Nigeria’s oil production and exports,” he said.
He also noted that with systems like Falcon Eye and the Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity, the Navy has helped maintain Nigeria’s zero-piracy status while contributing to regional maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
