Nigerian Navy Captures Two Oil Thieves In Rivers State

Nigerian Navy Captures Two Oil Thieves In Rivers State

The Nigerian Navy has said its personnel of Quick Response Team of Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Bonny under Operation DELTA SANITY, have destroyed a camp of suspected crude oil thieves and arrested two suspects in Bonny, Rivers State.

This was disclosed in a statement the Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu.

According to him, “The Quick Response Team of Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Bonny under Operation DELTA SANITY, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, engaged a group of suspected crude oil thieves in a firefight at Elem-Akrakama, and Elem-Tombia general area of Rivers State.

The team engaged a group of suspected crude oil thieves in a firefight at Elem-Akrakama and Elem-Tombia general area of Rivers State. The suspects, who were armed onboard two speedboats, diverted and fled into their camp on sighting the team.”

He said the team deployed drone surveillance for situational awareness and effective fires, forcing the suspects to retreat into the surrounding creeks, but the troops recovered two outboard engines (200 and 140 Horse Power) and two Motorola walkie-talkie radios, amongst others.

It said, “The operation was launched in January 2024 to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The operation involves the deployment of more personnel, platforms, helicopters, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations.

Between April-July 2024, 24 suspects and six vessels have been arrested, while 122 illegal refinery sites were deactivated and 57 wooden boats destroyed.”