The Nigeria military, through the Nigerian Navy, has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft with the discovery and recovery of about 39,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil from an illegal storage facility in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, was executed by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following credible intelligence on illegal crude oil activities around Okpokiri Community within the base’s area of operations.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the Navy’s Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team uncovered suspicious dugout pits concealed within the creek environment, prompting a detailed ground assessment.
The assessment led to the discovery of four dugout pits, comprising one large and three medium-sized pits. Three of the pits contained an estimated 39,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, while the fourth pit was found filled with water.
The Navy said the discovery underscores the continued use of hidden storage facilities by crude oil theft syndicates to stockpile stolen crude oil before moving it through illegal distribution channels.
It noted that by targeting such storage points, the Nigerian Navy is disrupting the logistics network that sustains crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
The statement added that the illegal storage site and the recovered products were handled in line with established operational procedures, while surveillance has been intensified in the area to prevent the return of similar illegal activities.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, protect critical national assets, and enhance Nigeria’s economic security.
