In 2023, Naval Troops Destroyed 700 Illegal Refineries, Nabbed 234 Oil Thieves

In 2023, Naval Troops Destroyed 700 Illegal Refineries, Nabbed 234 Oil Thieves

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has stated that the Nigerian Navy (NN) has successfully destroyed over 700 illegal refining sites and recovered 803,353.20 barrels of stolen crude oil in the year 2023.

CNS Ogalla disclosed this while addressing operational commanders in Abuja today
to evaluate the service’s operational activities.

He noted that between January and December 2023, the service apprehended 5 barges, 690 Cotonou boats laden with stolen crude, 116 speedboats, as well as 232 suspects involved in these illegal activities.

“During this period, 82 vehicles/trucks and 23 vessels were also seized, resulting in the recovery of over 800,000 barrels of crude oil and fuel estimated at N105 billion at current market prices.

“Among the vessels arrested were MT MARINE EXPRESS, MT CECILIA, MT UFUOMA, MT VIGOR I, MV BARGE AYEBA ENENI, FT LAMU I, and MT VINNALARIS I LAGOS, among others. This resulted in the recovery of 46,369,219 liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 2,472,200 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 438,886 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),,” he added.

The CNS highlighted the service’s efforts in combating drug trafficking, seizing 692 bags of cannabis worth N1.38 billion between April and November, which he noted were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Ogalla, however, warned against complacency among personnel, urging increased vigilance and collaboration with sister services, government agencies, and private surveillance companies.

“We must stay ahead of the curve, anticipate their moves, and counter them with greater resolve.

“I charge you all to utilize all available resources with renewed vigor to anticipate criminal activities and disrupt their operations before they begin. Let every illegal vessel know that they will be hunted down, intercepted, and brought to justice,” he emphasized.

The naval boss highlighted the adaptability and ruthlessness of the criminals they combat and reiterated the navy’s “zero tolerance for COT,” stating that any officer involved would face the full force of the law.

Ogalla expressed optimism that the event would lead to “renewed action” and a roadmap to secure a prosperous maritime future for Nigeria. He also encouraged open discussions and the sharing of experiences to craft a foolproof strategy against maritime crime.