The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities, uncovering 10 suspected illegal crude oil storage pits and recovering about 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out on August 20, 2026, by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following actionable intelligence on suspected illegal crude oil storage activities around Allison Community in Bonny.
According to an official statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director Naval Information, five of the 10 dugout pits discovered during the operation contained an estimated 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining five were filled with water.
The naval team also discovered a substantial quantity of hoses believed to have been used for the movement and transfer of crude oil within the area.
The Navy said the recovered products, dugout pits and associated materials were handled in accordance with established operational procedures, noting that the operation effectively disrupted suspected crude oil theft activities in the community.
The Service said the latest operation was part of sustained efforts to dismantle the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across the Niger Delta.
It said the discovery and deactivation of the facilities would deny criminal elements access to the materials and infrastructure required to sustain the illicit exploitation of the nation’s natural resources.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining Operation DELTA SENTINEL, stressing that its operations would continue to focus on protecting critical national assets and safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure.
The Navy also vowed to deny economic saboteurs the freedom to operate within the nation’s maritime environment as efforts continue to disrupt networks facilitating crude oil theft and other forms of maritime criminality.
