The Nigerian Navy has raided the Oteghele community in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, uncovering and shutting down two illegal refining sites.
The operation, carried out by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos on Friday night, was led by Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu. According to him, the sites contained approximately 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), stored in one oven, nine dug-out pits, and 28 polythene sacks.
The raid was part of Operation Delta Sanity II, an ongoing mission to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. Captain Okoloagu emphasised that such operations align with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, aimed at eradicating illegal activities in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
This latest crackdown comes just two weeks after Navy operatives dismantled three illegal refining sites in the same local government area, where they seized 3,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,600 litres of refined AGO.
Captain Okoloagu warned economic saboteurs to desist from illegal activities, vowing that the Nigerian Navy will continue its relentless efforts to deny criminals freedom of action and bring them to justice.
