Following the take-off of Operation Octopus-Grip and the deployment of not only warships to patrol the high seas but inshore gunboats to comb reverine communities and arrest economic saboteurs, die-hard oil thieves particularly pipeline vandals and illegal refinery operators who siphon crude have started relocating from the riverside areas.
Military sources disclosed that owing to the no-nonsense approach of heavily armed and battle ready naval troops and their fiery looking gunboats, pirates, illegal bunkerers and suspected militants have gone underground.
In this regard, residents of riverine communities of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Edo states in the Niger Delta region are said to be deserting their homes many of which are suspected havens for illegal oil businesses for fear of naval forces invading their communities in search of oil thieves and platform saboteurs.
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Operation Octopus Grip which took off barely 24 hours following the end of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Crocodile Smile II in Niger Delta, is more fearsome according to sources because the Navy know the terrain better and have the capacity to access even the remotest hideouts of oil criminals hence the flight of many of the criminals.
At the launching, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, CNC, Rear Adm. Bello Al-Hassan, had noted that the exercise which will majorly concentrate in Bayelsa and Delta states would help to enhance training and the combat readiness of the personnel.
Octopus-grip which has NNS Delta as one of its major component sectors will also secure the waterways and provide adequate security within the Central Naval Command’s Area of Responsibility.
Al-Hassan said the Command earlier in January, launched Operation Rivers Sweep, insisting that, “So far, the operation has recorded huge success in reducing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other maritime crimes.
Giving out statistics, he said, “Between May and September this year, the command seized and destroyed about 870,000 MT of illegally refined crude oil”.
Sources added that hundreds of illegal refineries have been destroyed while over 200 suspects have been arrested and handed over to the EFCC and Police for prosecution while intensive patrol of economic platforms by the navy has been activated.
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