The Nigerian Navy, has thwarted another attempt by crude oil theft syndicates to establish illegal storage infrastructure in Bonny, Rivers State, as part of ongoing operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The successful operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny during a targeted anti-crude oil theft mission around Dema Abbey Community in Bonny Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operatives discovered seven concealed dugout pits strategically established within the community.
The Navy disclosed that preliminary assessment showed four of the pits had been freshly excavated, while the remaining three contained water, suggesting they were being prepared to facilitate crude oil theft operations.
It explained that similar concealed pits uncovered in previous operations had been used as temporary storage facilities for stolen crude oil before the products were transported to illegal refining sites.
Following the discovery, the newly excavated pits were dismantled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying criminal elements the infrastructure needed to establish another illegal crude oil storage hub in the Bonny operational area.
The Navy said the operation underscored its proactive strategy of disrupting crude oil theft at the planning stage by identifying and destroying the infrastructure that enables the illicit trade before it becomes operational.
It added that the preventive approach has continued to weaken the logistics network sustaining crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the Niger Delta.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economic assets, the Nigerian Navy stated that it would sustain intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle criminal infrastructure, deny economic saboteurs freedom of action, and safeguard the nation’s critical oil and gas facilities in support of national economic security.
