The Nigerian Navy says those behind crude oil theft and illegal refining in the country are “sophisticated” and “coordinated”. However, it warned that there is no “hiding place” for criminals.

Speaking during his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, the Director, Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said it takes a lot to carry out a successful crude oil theft; thus, those behind it cannot be labelled “petty thieves”.

“These syndicates are very, very coordinated and very, very sophisticated. You don’t steal crude at that scale without some wherewithal to be able to make it happen,” Folorunsho said on Thursday.

“I mean, when you’re talking about metric tonnes, you’re talking about ships, and you know what it takes to operate at sea. It’s not something that you just come by on the road. So yes, you’re right. But again, when you look at the reward for a successful heist, you would understand why people will band together; people will invest in stuff like this to ensure that they’re able to take some of these for themselves.”

He spoke hours after the Nigerian Navy announced what it described as a significant operational gain in its fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Nigerian Navy said it discovered three suspected illegal refining sites, six reservoirs and approximately 99,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The products were recovered in its operational areas in Rivers and Delta states.

Reacting to the development, the Nigerian Navy vowed to intensify the fight against crude oil theft and other crimes in the country’s waterways.

The Director of Naval Information said that with the “painstaking investments by the Federal Government”, including the acquisition of some of the finest maritime surveillance equipment, there is no “hiding place” for oil thieves.

“But again, the message from the Nigerian Navy is: there is no hiding place with our maritime surveillance equipment and with the sustained drive under the directive of the incumbent Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas,” Folorunsho said.

“I just wish to tell each one of them—I mean these criminal elements that want to come to perpetuate these crimes—their days are numbered, and if we catch you, of course, we’ll ensure that you face the law.” (Channels)