The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, uncovering a camouflaged storage site containing about 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Delta State.
The discovery was made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA following credible intelligence on suspected illegal oil activities around the Ugbokodo Creek axis.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was supported by aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Naval personnel initially found no obvious signs of illegal activity at the location. However, detailed observation and drone imagery revealed a large freshly dug reservoir cleverly concealed beneath leaves, wooden planks, and dense vegetation in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Further exploitation of the site led to the recovery of approximately 17,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil. The location was also found to bear clear evidence of recent crude oil theft activities and was believed to have served as a temporary storage point within an illicit supply network.
The Navy noted that the discovery highlights the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed by criminal elements involved in oil theft. It, however, emphasized that intelligence-led operations and enhanced aerial surveillance capabilities continue to strengthen efforts to identify and dismantle such illegal networks.
According to the statement, the reservoir, recovered products and other associated materials were handled in line with operational procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs the resources needed to sustain their criminal activities.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on crude oil theft syndicates through sustained surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and coordinated actions aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure and economic interests.
Captain Folorunsho reiterated that the Navy remains resolute in supporting national efforts to curb oil theft and protect the country’s economic assets.
