In a recent development, the Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) successfully carried out an operation resulting in the arrest of an oil vessel named MV Ofuoma and its crew of 10 members.
The vessel was reportedly transporting what is believed to be illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers state, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The operation took place on August 15th at the Abuloma jetty in Port-Harcourt, where the MV Ofuoma was apprehended. The Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, executed the arrest under the representation of Commodore John Siyanbade, the Component Commander of OPDS, on behalf of Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, the OPDS Commander.
Commodore John Siyanbade revealed that MV Ofuoma was being used as a storage facility for unlawfully refined oil products. He stated, “The vessel was receiving product suspected to be illegally refined AGO from a dug-out wooden boat alongside it.
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As it was intercepted by OPDS, about 20,000 liters of the product had already been transferred from the dug-out boat to the vessel. Currently, we have about 35,000 liters still remaining on board. The operation was conducted by troops of the JTF Operation Delta Safe Headquarters.”
The apprehended suspects include both the crew members aboard the vessel and those operating the boat. Commodore Siyanbade disclosed that the suspects have given credible information about the source of the illegally refined oil. Efforts are underway to deactivate the illegal refining site in the area, and the operation will continue for some time.
Commodore Siyanbade assured the public that OPDS remains dedicated to eradicating crude oil theft and other forms of illegality in the region. He issued a stern warning to those involved, urging them to seek legitimate means of livelihood before facing the consequences of their actions.
What You Should Know
It is important to note that Nigeria has been grappling with crude oil theft and illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta for several decades. The country loses millions of dollars daily to oil theft. The newly appointed National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, revealed that the country loses as much as 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily to the activities of illegal refiners.
This ongoing problem has resulted in a significant revenue shortfall and the country’s inability to meet OPEC’s target production quota. In July, Nigeria’s crude oil production stood at 1.2 million barrels per day, which is far below OPEC’s quota.
