Mariam Sanni
The Nigerian Navy operational momentum under Operation DELTA SENTINEL has disclosed that its has intercepted a consignment of illegally refined petroleum products within its Area of Operations in Rivers State.
In a statement in Abuja, Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho explained that acting on credible intelligence, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER deployed an Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team to the Abua-Odual and Ogbologo general areas, where two wooden boats conveying about 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were intercepted.
He stated that upon sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators abandoned their boats and fled into the surrounding creeks in an effort to evade arrest.
According to him, the intercepted boats and products were retrieved and handled in accordance with extant operational procedures.
“This successful operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to disrupting illegal oil bunkering activities, following the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to intensify intelligence-driven operations and rid the maritime environment of economic saboteurs and criminal elements.
“ The Service remains dedicated to maintaining the tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure and economic interests,” he noted .
