The Nigerian Navy stopped an attempted crude oil theft near Bonny in Rivers State on Thursday, arresting one suspect and seizing equipment used for wellhead tampering.
Personnel from the Forward Operating Base Bonny intercepted a fibre boat close to the Renaissance African Energy Company Limited Oloma Flow Station during patrols. The boat's occupants fled, leaving behind tools including a portable generator, cutting machine, chisels, spanners and cutlasses.
Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said the items were meant to compromise the wellhead and siphon crude oil. Follow-up operations with other agencies led to the arrest of one suspect, while the boat was secured for investigation.
The operation under Operation Delta Sentinel prevented damage to critical infrastructure and economic losses, the navy stated.
