Nigerian Navy Foils Attempted Wellhead Sabotage, Arrests Suspect in Bonny

The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempted attack on a critical oil wellhead in Bonny, Rivers State, arresting a suspect and recovering equipment allegedly meant for pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, underscores the Navy's ongoing efforts to safeguard Nigeria's oil and gas infrastructure and curb economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny intercepted a fibre boat during a routine security patrol near the Renaissance African Energy Company Limited (RAECL) Oloma Flow Station.

According to him, the occupants of the boat fled on sighting the naval patrol, abandoning the vessel close to a wellhead under suspicious circumstances.

A search of the boat led to the recovery of several items commonly associated with wellhead tampering and pipeline vandalism. The recovered equipment included a portable generator, a cutting and grinding machine, chisels, spanners, cutlasses, and other accessories believed to have been assembled to compromise the wellhead and siphon crude oil.

Folorunsho disclosed that follow-up operations carried out in collaboration with other security agencies led to the arrest of one suspect linked to the attempted sabotage, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network.

He added that the recovered fibre boat has been secured as investigations continue.

The Navy noted that the operation successfully prevented what could have been a major attack on critical oil infrastructure, averting significant economic losses and potential environmental damage.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigeria's maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue to intensify intelligence driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other forms of economic sabotage while ensuring the security of the nation's strategic assets.