By Evelyn Usman

Chief of Naval Staff,CNS Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has  extended the  anti-crude oil theft operation tagged  Operation DELTA SANITY, for another 90 days, within the Niger Delta region, with a view to eradicating crude oil theft, for an improved economy

Recall that  the operation was  launched by the CNS on  January  6,2024, with  the Nigerian Navy personnel, platforms, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles  deployed for aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta area.

Consequently, commands, units and bases were directed to conduct both Kinetic and non-Kinetic operations to stem the tide of maritime criminalities.

Declaring the extension of the operation at the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the CNS, said the  operation had denied oil thieves and vandals across various parts of the Niger Delta, freedom of action.

He disclosed that the operation which was carried out in  Bayelsa, Ondo, Rivers and  Akwa Ibom States among others, recorded  the recovery of  quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites and  arrest of suspects.

The  recoveries  made between January and April , as highlighted  in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adam-Aliu, revealed  that   74 suspects were  arrested, 447 dugout pits deactivated and 120 illegal refining sites deactivated.

 Also in the period under review,  a total of 119  storage tanks and Refining Ovens were deactivated;  95 wooden boats   seized;     13 fibres boats seized; 14 vessels and nine vehicles seized. 

While appreciating  President  Bola Tinubu, the CNS in the statement , said, ” The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has been supporting the Armed Forces in general and the Nigerian Navy in particular”

He also commended all the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy who according to him,  daily sacrifice every form of physical comfort to fulfill the mandate of Operation DELTA SANITY