March 13, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Navy has dealt a significant blow to crude oil thieves, destroying an illegal storage site containing about 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in the Bonny area of Rivers State.
Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operation was carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel. He noted that the action followed directives from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify efforts against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across the nation’s maritime domain.
Personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny uncovered the illicit facility in the Opotumbi general area during routine surveillance. Using advanced maritime surveillance technology, Navy operatives detected concealed dugout pits hidden under thick creekside vegetation.
“FOB Bonny elements moved swiftly to the site and discovered four dugout pits containing a cumulative 17,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil. The recovered products were subsequently destroyed in accordance with extant operational guidelines”, he said.
Folorunsho emphasised that the operation reflects the Navy’s renewed commitment to tackling crude oil theft and other maritime crimes. He added that the service will continue to sustain patrols, enhance surveillance, and strengthen inter-agency collaboration to protect critical national assets and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests within the maritime environment.
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