The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against crude oil theft under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, dismantling an illegal crude oil storage network and recovering approximately 39,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following credible intelligence on illegal crude oil storage activities around Okpokiri Community within the Base’s Area of Operations.
The statement explained that acting on the intelligence, the Base’s Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team deployed to the area and uncovered suspicious dugout pits concealed within the creek environment, prompting a detailed ground assessment by the patrol team.
During the operation, the personnel discovered 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 filled with water.
The Navy noted that the discovery underscores the continued use of concealed storage facilities by crude oil theft syndicates to stockpile illegally obtained crude oil pending evacuation through illicit distribution channels. It added that by targeting such storage nodes, the Service continues to weaken the logistics network sustaining crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
The statement further disclosed that the illegal storage site and the recovered products were handled in accordance with established operational procedures, while surveillance around the area has been intensified to prevent the re-establishment of similar illegal facilities.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, safeguard critical national assets, and support Nigeria’s economic security.
