In weeks five and six of the exercise, the Nigerian Navy (NN) said its troops conducting Operation Daktar Da Barawo (OPDDB) seized over six million litres of crude oil and arrested 20 suspects.
Commodore A.O. Ayo-Vaughan, Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, stated that the economic saboteurs used armed resistance between May 1 and 14, 2022.
Such developments, he said, would not deter the Service from enforcing zero tolerance for economic sabotage and criminality in Nigeria’s maritime domain, particularly in the backwaters.
“Over 6 million litres of products and stolen crude oil were seized and arrested during OPDDB Weeks 5 and 6, including more than 20 suspects, many of whom have been handed over for prosecution.
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“The use of armed resistance by economic saboteurs and criminals, particularly at Okarki, a border community between Rivers and Bayelsa States, was also highlighted during the period under review.”
“This development will not deter the Nigerian Navy from enforcing zero tolerance in Nigeria’s Maritime Environment, particularly in the backwaters,” he said.
The operation, which was supposed to end after 30 days, was extended due to the gains and successes of Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO in April 2022, in which the Nigerian Navy denied oil thieves over N10 billion worth of stolen crude oil and petroleum products.
