The Nigerian Navy has recorded another operational breakthrough under Operation DELTA SENTINEL with the interception of a large consignment of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves in Rivers State.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Captain AA Folorunsho, personnel of the Nigerian Navy, operating through the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS PATHFINDER), carried out the operation in the Degema/Ogbogoro/Ogbologo general areas following credible intelligence on illegal oil activities.
The Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team intercepted two wooden boats conveying about 44,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Eight suspects were arrested during the operation, while other armed accomplices reportedly fled the scene upon sighting naval personnel.
The Navy confirmed that the suspects and recovered products are currently in custody and will be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
The statement noted that the success aligns with directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, who has ordered intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other maritime crimes.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intelligence-driven patrols, enhanced surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime resources and economic assets.
Operation DELTA SENTINEL continue to serve as a key security framework targeting oil theft and related criminal activities across the country’s waterways, particularly in the Niger Delta region, including parts of Rivers State.
