The Nigerian Navy has destroyed an illegal crude oil storage site within the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny Area of Operations in Rivers State as part of intensified efforts to curb crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.
In a statement, the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed that the operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, underscores the Navy’s renewed commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime resources and dismantling criminal networks involved in oil theft.
According to him, the unit, leveraging the Nigerian Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, uncovered concealed dugout pits hidden beneath thick vegetation within creeks in the Opotumbi general area.
“FOB BONNY elements moved swiftly to the site and discovered 4 x dug-out pits containing a cumulative 17,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil,” he said.
He noted that the recovered products were subsequently destroyed in accordance with extant operational guidelines.
He added that “this move demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s renewed momentum in combating crude oil theft and maritime crimes, emphasising continuous patrols, enhanced surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration to protect critical national assets and Nigeria’s economic interests in Nigeria’s maritime environment.”
