By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a suspected illegal crude oil storage site containing an estimated 132,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Allison community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the discovery was made on October 22, 2026, by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following actionable intelligence.
The operation led to the discovery of 10 dugout pits suspected to have been used for storing crude oil within the illicit petroleum supply chain.
The Navy said the site and recovered products were handled in accordance with extant regulations, adding that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to identify and dismantle infrastructure supporting crude oil theft and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products.
It noted that intelligence-led operations remained critical to uncovering concealed petroleum stockpiles and disrupting networks involved in crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against illegal refining activities and other forms of petroleum-related economic crime in the region.
It also called on community leaders, residents, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to report suspected crude oil theft, illegal refining, suspicious petroleum storage and unauthorised movement of petroleum products to the nearest security agency.
The statement emphasised that timely and credible information from the public would help security agencies respond swiftly and prevent illicit activities from expanding.
The Navy further stressed that protecting the nation’s critical petroleum assets required sustained vigilance and cooperation between security agencies and the communities they serve.
