Get Guardian on GoogleThe Nigerian Navy has uncovered a combined 185,175 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and deactivated illegal storage and refining facilities in three communities in Rivers State as part of its sustained crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.
The discoveries were made during separate intelligence-driven operations conducted between October 24 and November 7 by personnel of the Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, and Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation Delta Sentinel.
In the latest operation on November 7, naval personnel uncovered about 59,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at two illegal refining sites in Ogbogolo community, Ahoada West Local Council of Rivers State.
The sites contained two large and 36 smaller dugout pits, alongside other storage facilities.
The operation followed another discovery in the same community on October 24, when personnel of NNS SOROH uncovered two illegal crude oil storage sites containing four dugout pits, 29 sacks and a 25-litre keg. The facilities were estimated to hold 8,675 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
In a separate operation on November 5, personnel of FOB Bonny uncovered approximately 117,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and deactivated three illegal refining sites in Awokiri community, Ogu-Bolo Local Council of the state.
A statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the naval team discovered 16 dugout pits, nine of which contained about 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
Another 2,000 litres were found in a storage tank, bringing the total quantity discovered in the operation to approximately 117,000 litres.
The team also identified four pits containing water and three freshly excavated ones, suggesting attempts to establish additional illegal refining facilities.
The Navy said the three illegal refining sites, including their associated pits and petroleum products, were deactivated in accordance with established procedures.
The latest discoveries bring to 185,175 litres the volume of suspected stolen crude oil uncovered in the three operations, highlighting the continued activities of illegal oil operators in the oil-producing state.
The proliferation of illegal refining and crude oil storage facilities in the Niger Delta has remained a source of concern because of the environmental and economic consequences, including pollution of land and waterways, threats to aquatic life and the destruction of livelihoods dependent on fishing and farming.
The Navy said the operations formed part of its sustained efforts under Operation Delta Sentinel to disrupt crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and unregulated petroleum processing, which undermine the nation’s oil revenue and threaten critical energy infrastructure.
It added that intelligence-led operations would continue to target identified hotspots and criminal networks, while strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders to protect oil and gas assets.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining, denying economic saboteurs access to the country’s petroleum resources and supporting efforts to improve national crude oil production.
