The Nigerian Navy has intensified its offensive against crude oil theft, recovering approximately 39,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantling illegal storage facilities in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation Delta Sentinel, following credible intelligence on illegal crude oil activities in the area.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the anti-crude oil theft team discovered concealed dugout pits hidden within the creek environment during a coordinated operation.
According to Folorunsho, the operatives uncovered four dugout pits—one large and three medium-sized. Three of the pits contained an estimated 39,500 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined or stolen crude oil, while the fourth pit was found to contain only water.
He said the discovery highlights the continued use of concealed storage facilities by crude oil theft syndicates to stockpile stolen products before transporting them through illegal distribution networks.
“The operation led to the discovery of four dugout pits—one large and three medium-sized. Three of the pits contained an estimated 39,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, while the fourth was filled with water,” the statement read.
Folorunsho noted that dismantling such illegal storage sites disrupts the logistics chain that fuels crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
He added that the illegal storage facility and the recovered products were handled in accordance with established operational procedures, while surveillance has been intensified in the area to prevent the resurgence of similar criminal activities.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle crude oil theft networks, safeguard critical national assets, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic security.
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