Nigerian Navy Destroys 17,500 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State Operation
The Nigerian Navy has destroyed an illegal storage facility containing approximately 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in the Bonny area of Rivers State. The operation, part of the ongoing “Operation Delta Sentinel,” underscores the service’s intensified campaign against maritime crime in the Niger Delta.
According to a statement from the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the discovery was made by personnel from the Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny during routine surveillance in the Opotumbi general area. The facility consisted of four concealed dugout pits hidden beneath dense mangrove vegetation along the creeks.
Captain Folorunsho explained that the site was identified using the Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, which detected the hidden pits. Following the discovery, FOB Bonny personnel moved swiftly to the location. The recovered products, suspected to be stolen crude oil, were subsequently destroyed in compliance with operational protocols.
This action follows recent directives from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, ordering a scaled-up effort to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across Nigeria’s maritime domain. The Navy stated that the operation demonstrates a renewed operational momentum in addressing these economic crimes.
Illegal bunkering and crude oil theft remain persistent threats to Nigeria’s economy, causing significant revenue loss and environmental damage. The Nigerian Navy has been tasked with securing the nation’s offshore and creek networks, often in collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies.
The service affirmed its commitment to sustaining robust patrols, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and strengthening inter-agency cooperation. These measures aim to protect critical national infrastructure and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests within its maritime environment. The destruction of the seized product prevents its re-entry into the illegal market, a standard practice for confiscated illicit goods.
The operation in Bonny is part of a broader strategy to assert control over the creeks and deter activities that undermine the country’s oil and gas sector. The Navy’s use of technology for detection highlights an adaptive approach to countering increasingly sophisticated concealment methods employed by illegal operators.
