Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, has extended the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity by 90 days.
The operation was launched on January 6, 2024, to combat oil theft and related crimes.
According to the Naval Director of Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, this was in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to eradicate crude oil theft and ramp up Nigeria’s production for an improved economy.
Accordingly, he said OPERATION DELTA SANITY involved the deployment of personnel, platforms, helicopters and UAVs on aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta area.
He said, “The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has extended the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity by 90 days. Operation Delta Sanity was launched on January 6, 2024, to combat oil theft and related crimes. This is in line with the President and Commander-in-Chief’s directive to eradicate crude oil theft and ramp up Nigeria’s production for an improved economy.
“Accordingly, Operation Delta Sanity involved the deployment of personnel, platforms, helicopters and UAVs on aggressive surveillance and interdiction operations across the Niger Delta area. The successes were immediate and remarkable including the recovery of massive quantities of stolen products, the dismantling of Illegal Refining Sites, the arrest of suspects and the seizure of stolen products. Hence, the Operation was extended to April 2024 for 90 days.
“While assessing the achievements of the operation during a Press Briefing on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the Commander Task Group, Rear Admiral Samson Bura stated that since the extension in April 2024, a total of 22 suspects have been arrested and about 122 Illegal Refinery Sites were deactivated.”
Also, a total of 57 wooden boats, and 65 storage tanks were deactivated while six vessels were arrested.
“The achievements and successes of Op Delta Sanity underscore the need for the operation to be extended. Hence the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla has approved the extension of Operation Delta Sanity for a further 90 days effective from July 10, 2024,” the statement added.
