AGS NEWS – In an ongoing operation spanning January to February 2024, the Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta region, resulting in significant arrests and recovery of stolen crude oil from various criminal syndicates operating in the area.

According to a statement by Rear Admiral AO Ayo-Vaughan, Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, the recovered items include 60,815.77 barrels of crude oil valued at approximately $5.218 million (N8.12 billion).

557,580 litres of illegally refined Automatic Gas Oil (AGO) worth N497 million, Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK) valued at N5.5 million, and 9,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) worth N5.490 million were seized.

The crackdown has dealt a significant blow to oil thieves, denying them access to approximately N8.6 billion, which could have been used to fund activities threatening national security and prosperity.

Providing a detailed breakdown of the operations, Admiral Ayo-Vaughan revealed that a total of 51 wooden boats were apprehended, alongside the destruction of 105 illegal refining ovens, 85 reservoirs, and 288 dugout pits.

41 Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and three fibre boats were dismantled during the operations.