Joint Task Force Seizes 8 Vessels Consisting 100,000 Litres Of Illegal Diesel

Eight Vessels consisting of 100,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, were seized during Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) conducted by the Military Joint Task Force in Rivers State.

Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, OPDS, Real Admiral Olusegun Ferreira said on Sunday that the vessels were caught during a stop-and-search operation across various creeks.

Ferreira, who was represented by the Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Adedokun Siyanbade, said the operation was done to stop crude oil theft and criminal activities from the Niger Delta region.

"As you all know, the mandate given by the Chief of Defence Staff to OPDS was to protect oil and gas installations, and ensure that crude oil theft is stopped in joint operation areas," he said, The Guardian reported.

He continued, "This instruction was reiterated during the last conference he had with the Joint Task Force Commander, where he stressed the need for the total eradication of crude oil theft by all means within the joint operation area."

Siyanbade noted that these directives pushed the Joint Task Force further and led to the arrest of these "eight badges with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO, cumulatively over 100,000 liters in different compartments."

He went on to address the people of Nigeria, especially the youth, and asked them to stop engaging in illegal oil bunkering and other acts of criminality, adding that if anyone is caught, then they have to face the punishment.

"It is still a warning for all those involved in illegal activities and we are advising them to look for legitimate businesses to do," he added. "OPDS and other Security agencies within the joint operation areas will not relent in their efforts at stopping crude oil theft within the joint operations area."

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed earlier this month that the military operations across the Niger Delta region have recovered millions of liters of oil from oil thieves and saved the country N4 billion.

Maj. Gen. Buba shared that in the last two months, the operations saved 6.6 million liters of stolen crude oil, 3.5 million liters of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 200,000 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and over 65,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirits.

Oil theft is a big issue in Nigeria while the country is already dealing with hiked fuel prices after President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy.