The Nigerian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime environment through a successful rescue operation and a series of coordinated anti-crude oil theft missions across the Niger Delta.
In a Press Release on Thursday 6th November, signed by Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, the Navy announced that on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, personnel of the Forward Operating Base Bonny rescued 11 passengers from a sinking speedboat along the Bonny River.
According to the Navy, the boat had departed Nembe Waterside Jetty in Port Harcourt and was en route to Coal Beach Jetty in Bonny Island when it developed engine failure midstream and began taking in water near the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne, Rivers State. “The swift response of the Forward Operating Base Bonny patrol team under heavy rainfall prevented a major tragedy,” the statement noted.
“All rescued passengers — six males and five females — were safely taken to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Jetty for medical checks and subsequently handed over to the Marine Police for reunification with their families.”
Navy Dismantles Multiple Illegal Refining Operations in Delta and Rivers States
Beyond the rescue effort, the Navy also intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft operations in the Niger Delta region. On Wednesday, 5 November 2025, multiple Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) were uncovered and deactivated in four different locations.
The report detailed that personnel of Forward Operating Base Escravos deactivated two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. Similarly, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team discovered and dismantled another illegal refining site containing three cooking ovens, six reservoirs, sacks, jerrycans, and dugout pits filled with stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) around the Bakana and Isaka general areas of Rivers State.
In related operations, FOB Bonny personnel dismantled an active illegal refining site at Eyamba Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, while the NNS DELTA patrol team deactivated another site at Opumani Creek in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.
“These operations underscore the Nigerian Navy’s renewed efforts under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), to ensure maritime safety, protect critical national assets, and promote lawful economic activities,” the statement added.
“The Navy remains resolute in its mission to eradicate crude oil theft and all forms of illegality within Nigeria’s maritime domain.”
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