The Nigerian Navy has destroyed an illegal crude oil storage site discovered in the Bonny area of Rivers State as part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta. The operation was carried out by special boat operatives under the Navy’s anti-crude oil theft mission known as Operation Delta Sentinel.
Naval authorities said the illegal facility was uncovered during surveillance operations conducted within the Forward Operating Base in Bonny. The discovery was made using maritime surveillance technology which detected concealed pits hidden under thick vegetation in the creeks around the Opotumbi area.
According to the Navy, operatives found four dugout pits containing about 17,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil. The products were subsequently destroyed at the site in line with operational procedures aimed at preventing their further use in illegal refining activities.
Officials said the operation demonstrates renewed efforts by the Navy to clamp down on crude oil theft and related maritime crimes that continue to affect Nigeria’s oil-producing regions. Oil theft and illegal refining have remained a major challenge in the Niger Delta, leading to significant economic losses and environmental damage.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations across the region and urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible information that could help curb crude oil theft and other illegal activities.
