Navy deactivates 71 illegal refineries, recovers 411,000 litres stolen crude and arrests three suspected smugglers in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Navy says its Special Forces deactivated no fewer than 70 illegal refinery sites and confiscated over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil across the Niger Delta. 

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Abuja, stated that three suspected smugglers were arrested in Akwa Ibom State while in a wooden boat laden with 10 drums of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

According to the statement, the intensified operations under the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity were part of its effort to curb crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain. 

 

Adams-Aliu said the crackdown led to the discovery and destruction of 120 dugout pits, illegal storage facilities, and various equipment used in crude oil theft and illegal refining across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States. 

 

He said the Navy denied oil thieves access to about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally-refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). 

 

“Since the relaunch of Operation DELTA SANITY in December 2024, the Nigerian Navy has recorded remarkable successes, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation's maritime domain,” the statement read.

 

The operational successes recorded in July 2025 include the following: ​On Friday, 4 July 2025, six illegal Refinery Sites were discovered and deactivated around Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni communities in Rivers State. 

 

The sites comprised 40 dugout pits with approximately 66,000 litres of suspected crude oil, 40 ovens, and 30 reservoirs holding about 40,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

On Saturday, 12 July 2025, one illegal Refinery Site with 5 dugout pits containing about 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil was deactivated at Otegele, Delta State.

 

On Monday, 14 July 2025, three suspected smugglers were arrested in Akwa Ibom State in a wooden boat laden with 10 drums (approximately 2,500 litres) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Investigations revealed the products were intended for smuggling into the Republic of Cameroon. The suspects and products were seized and handed over to relevant authorities.

 

Also on Monday, 14 July 2025, an underground reservoir with connected pipes, dugout pits, and buckets containing approximately 7,000 litres of crude oil, along with polythene bags, was discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

 

Also on Monday 14 July 2025, another wooden boat with 10 drums (approximately 2,500 litres) of PMS was seized and three suspected smugglers arrested along Agbani axis, Mbendoro, Effiat I & II, Okposo river entrances in Akwa Ibom State.

 

On Wednesday, 16 July 2025, an underground reservoir with connected pipes and 12 sacks containing 9,500 litres of suspected stolen Crude Oil, along with buckets and polythene bags were seized in Peres Community, Warri South West Local Government Area.

 

On Saturday, 19 July 2025, one illegal Refinery Site and 9 dugout pits, containing about 4,200 litres of crude oil were deactivated around Otegele in Obodo Omadino, Warri South West LGA, Delta State.

 

On Monday, 21 July 2025, many dugout pits, one pumping machine connected to an underground reservoir with 10 sacks containing approximately 10,000 litres of suspected crude oil, and 2 buckets were discovered and seized at Oteghele in Amadino community, Warri South West LGA, Delta State.

 

On Tuesday, 22 July 2025, two illegal refinery sites were deactivated at Biseni Community, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State. The sites had about 200,000 litres of stolen crude oil, one pumping machine, and about 2,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and DPK, as well as a network of galvanized pipes and hoses used for siphoning and distribution.

 

​On Wednesday, 23 July 2025, a follow-up operation led to the discovery and deactivation of seven metal ovens, six storage pits, and a large pond containing over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Biseni Community Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State.

 

Also on 23 July 2025, an illegal refinery site with 300 litres of crude oil, several drums, 3 dugout pits, and 2 reservoirs were deactivated along Isonogbene and Otuogbene in Akassa general area of Bayelsa State.

 

On the same day, 2 active illegal refinery sites, 8 dugout pits containing about 2,500 litres of crude oil, and 10 polythene sacks with approximately 3,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated in Obodo Omadino, Warri South West LGA, Delta State.

 

​Also on 23 July 2025, an abandoned illegal refinery site comprising one oven and 5 dugout pits with about 13,000 litres of crude oil was discovered and deactivated around Ugbokodo Creek and Christian Village in Warri South LGA, Delta State.

 

​On Friday, 25 July 2025, seven dugout pits, one drum, and five sacks containing approximately 15,000 litres of suspected crude oil were discovered and deactivated at Bennet Island within Bokodo Community, Delta State.

 

On Sunday, 27 July 2025, two active illegal refinery sites, 17 dugout pits with about 2,650 litres of crude oil, and 16 polythene sacks containing 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and appropriately deactivated at Obodo Omadino, Warri South West LGA, Delta State.

 

​On Monday, 28 July 2025, one active illegal refinery site with tanks, containing about 20,000 litres of crude oil, and an underground reservoir connected with hoses was discovered and deactivated at Oteghele Community in Omadino, Delta State.

 

In total, over 71 illegal refinery sites with 120 dug out pits were deactivated. Furthermore, oil thieves were denied about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally-refined AGO, 72,000 litres of DPK and 21,900 litres of PMS. 

 

“These significant successes underscore the resilience of the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to completely eradicate crude oil theft and contribute to improving Nigeria’s oil production,” the statement added.

 

“Notably, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed recently that Nigeria’s oil production had exceeded 1.8mpd. The Navy remains steadfast in its mission to ensure maritime safety, deter illicit activities, and uphold national security within the nation’s maritime domain. ”

 

 

2027: Jonathan ready to run again - Close ally claims

A close ally of the former President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that the former Nigeran leader will be one of the leading candidates to confront incumbent President Bola Tinubu, in the 2027 presidential poll.

Vanguard reports that the ally, who is also in the People Democratic Party, PDP, as Jonathan, claims that the plan to draft the former President to contest on PDP’s platform had gone far, and that he had accepted, adding that the former president was going into the race to find ways of addressing Nigeria’s rising poverty, hardship and the general suffering that had gripped the citizenry in recent years.

The source said the project to bring back Jonathan to reposition Nigeria was being driven by key Nigerian leaders and elders, who believed the former president stabilised the country and its economy within the six years of his administration.

The source said it was in a bid to rescue the country and restore the dwindling economy and Nigeria to its pride of place that key PDP leaders and elders started ‘pleading with him’ to consider running against Tinubu in 2027.

Jonathan’s ally said the Otuoke-born politician had already met behind the scene with some top leaders within and outside the PDP to consult them and seek their support for the 2027 presidential race.

According to the politician, Jonathan met with former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd., last weekend in his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State, and briefed him on his desire to run for one term in 2027.

Although the source did not say what General IBB’s response to Jonathan was, he, however, expressed optimism that the idea had been properly sold to the north.

According to the report, the ally also disclosed that Jonathan was currently in the South-South consulting and meeting with critical stakeholders, with a view to selling the project to them and soliciting their unflinching support.

It was, however, not clear at press time who the GEJ team was meeting with in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday and yesterday but it is believed that his support base in the region would not be a problem to him.

The former President is is yet to publicly confirm these speculations.

Bandit kingpin Bello Turji reportedly frees 32 hostages and surrenders arms in peace deal

Bello Turji, a notorious terror leader operating in Nigeria’s north-west region, has reportedly released 32 kidnapped individuals and surrendered a portion of his weapons as part of ongoing peace negotiations.

Premium Times reported that the development was made public by Islamic cleric Musa Yusuf, widely known as Asadus-Sunnah, during a religious gathering in Kaduna. According to Yusuf, the move followed a series of dialogue sessions held in July with Turji and other armed groups deep within Fakai forest, located in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Yusuf stated that the talks were initiated by residents of Shinkafi who appealed to clerics for mediation, urging them to convince Turji and his associates to halt attacks and grant farmers safe access to their lands.

“We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true,” Yusuf said. “These individuals are responsible for the insecurity in the area, and they all agreed to the peace proposals. We agreed that the Fulanis must be allowed to go to town without being stereotyped or killed by the vigilante.”

Yusuf noted that some of the armed groups surrendered weapons in three stages, and that farming activities have now resumed in several areas previously under the control of Turji’s fighters. He also confirmed that Turji released 32 kidnapped victims, providing video footage that showed the difficult terrain the captives traversed to regain their freedom.

While clerics have continued engagement with Turji’s faction, Yusuf explained that they have refrained from demanding a full disarmament. He said such a move could put Turji at risk from rival armed groups not involved in the peace process.

If the Buhari government was a failure, the Tinubu government in the last two years is a disastrous catastrophe - Former Minister of Police Affairs

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a “total disaster” that has performed worse than the much-maligned government of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In an interview with Trust Television, Waziri expressed deep concern over the state of governance in Nigeria, warning that the nation is slipping into deeper crises under Tinubu’s leadership.

“If the Buhari government was a failure, the Tinubu government in the last two years is a disastrous catastrophe,” he said, adding that, “It has failed in all ramifications, and the country has regressed.”

He pointed to rising insecurity, worsening economic hardship, and increased corruption as indicators of the administration’s failure. “The economy is collapsing, ethnocentrism is at an all-time high, and insecurity continues to ravage many states,” he added.

Waziri argued that Nigeria, under President Tinubu, has lost its sense of national purpose and become more fragile and polarised. He also questioned the sincerity of those who continue to publicly support the government, particularly individuals from regions grappling with severe violence.

“I am surprised that people whose local governments are under the control of bandits can appear on national television to endorse this government,” he said.

Calling for a more honest appraisal of the administration’s performance, Waziri urged citizens to look beyond media optics and orchestrated endorsements. According to him, “a government that has presided over national decline in every sector cannot credibly seek reelection.”

Verbal abuse can harm children as deeply as Physical abuse, New study finds

New research has found that verbal abuse in childhood may have just as damaging an impact on long-term mental health as physical abuse.

According to a study published Tuesday, August 5, in the journal BMJ Open, individuals who experienced verbal abuse as children were 60% more likely to report poor mental well-being as adults, compared to a 50% increase among those who experienced physical abuse.

The findings suggest that spoken harm — often minimized or overlooked — can have devastating and long-lasting effects on mental health.

The study also uncovered generational shifts in abuse trends. In England and Wales, the rate of physical abuse has halved — from 20% among those born between 1950–1979 to 10% among those born after 2000.

Conversely, verbal abuse is on the rise, signaling a new and pressing public health concern.

In the U.S., the 2021 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that over 60% of participants had experienced emotional abuse — and 32% had experienced physical abuse. Though labeled "emotional," the survey measured similar behaviors to those classified as verbal abuse in the BMJ study.

The research analyzed data from more than 20,000 adults across seven long-term studies in England and Wales. Researchers assessed participants’ childhood experiences using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) tool and their adult well-being using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale.

Lead author Dr. Mark Bellis, professor of public health and behavioral sciences at Liverpool John Moores University, summarized the results bluntly:

“Verbal abuse in childhood can leave mental health scars as deep and long-lasting as those caused by physical abuse.”

Experts say verbal abuse includes more than just shouting. It can encompass blaming, insulting, belittling, humiliating, criticizing, or threatening children.

Examples include: “You’re stupid.” “You always mess things up.” “Why can’t you be more like your brother?” “You’ll never amount to anything.”

Dr. Andrea Danese, professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at King’s College London, explained:

“Verbal abuse can twist a young person’s understanding of who they are and their place in the world. It is often unintentional but can have profound effects.”

Children are literal thinkers, said Dr. Shanta Dube, professor of epidemiology at Wingate University.

“Harsh words are taken at face value. They can shape a child’s entire self-concept.”

While this was an observational study, meaning it cannot prove direct causation — the strength and consistency of the findings add weight to growing evidence that verbal abuse has lasting impacts on mental health.

Some may argue that those with current mental health challenges could remember childhood more negatively. But the large sample size and rigorous analysis bolster the study’s credibility.

Dr. Bellis emphasized that the global mental health crisis — especially among young people — makes it urgent to recognize all forms of harm.

“We’ve made significant progress in reducing physical abuse, in part through awareness campaigns and education. But now we must do the same for verbal abuse.”

Supporting this shift means equipping parents, teachers, and caregivers with tools to foster healthy emotional environments.

“Helping parents regulate their emotions, communicate better, and model respectful behavior can profoundly impact children’s development,” Bellis added.

“We’re not asking people to dramatize every negative comment they’ve ever made,” said Danese. “But we should be mindful — and when necessary, offer a sincere apology, clarification, or reassurance to the child.”

This cultural change includes promoting practices like gentle parenting, which combines warmth with boundaries to foster trust, emotional safety, and mutual respect.

And while parents are key, everyone who interacts with children — teachers, coaches, family members — needs to understand the power of their words.

Dube concluded:“Language has power. And when it comes to children, the way we speak to them can shape how they see themselves — for better or for worse.”

FBI and the Ghanaian government have seized singer Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini linked to $4.7m fraud case in US

Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Justice Department, have seized a luxury vehicle,  a 2019 Lamborghini Urus from popular dancehall musician, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale.

In a press release issued by EOCO’s acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, the agency said the seizure was carried out following a 2023 request from US authorities. The operation took place at Shatta Wale’s residence in Trassaco Valley Phase 1, Accra.

“In June this year, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, acting on a 2023 request from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Justice Department, undertook an operation which led to a lawful search in a home at Trassaco Valley Phase 1, in Accra.

“The operation which was undertaken by the Surveillance And Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) of EOCO led to the discovery and seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus which the FBI and the Justice Department have tied to the proceeds of the criminal enterprise of one Nana Kwabena Amuah who is currently serving an 86-month sentence for several financial crimes in the US,” the statement partly read.

EOCO revealed that the luxury vehicle was found in Shatta Wale’s possession. He was allowed to surrender it voluntarily to avoid a public scene.

“The car was seized from one Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale. The officers were professional and civil, and the search and seizure occurred without incident. Nii Armah had pleaded with officers that he did not want the seizure to be made public because the vehicle was a big part of his brand, and that if his supporters saw the vehicle being driven away in the company of EOCO, it would destroy his brand. Nii Armah was allowed to surrender the vehicle himself, which is currently in the possession of EOCO,” the statement explained.

The agency clarified that SARU officers were armed during the operation as a routine safety measure.

“It is a standard safety protocol practice for officers of the Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) to carry weapons whilst on operation for the safety of officers,” the statement added.

According to EOCO, the Lamborghini is linked to criminal proceeds from Nana Kwabena Amuah, who owes $4.74 million in restitution to US authorities. The vehicle is expected to be repatriated to the United States as part of that recovery effort.

“The FBI and the Justice Department intend to send a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to the Government of Ghana to return the car to the United States as part of Nana Kwabena Amuah’s $4,743,443 restitution. Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of the National Signal Bureau (NSB), have been assessed as persons of interest and will be invited by EOCO to assist in further ongoing investigations in the coming days.”

EOCO also confirmed it may share its final investigation report with US authorities as part of continued cooperation.

“EOCO may share the final investigations report to the FBI and the Justice Department as part of our ongoing cooperation,” the statement concluded.