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The Nigerian Navy has confiscated 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled an illegal refinery in the Niger Delta as part of ongoing efforts to tackle oil theft in the region.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Navy’s Director of Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, in a statement.
Folorunsho explained that the operation was executed by naval personnel under Operation Delta Sentinel following directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, to intensify the crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities.
He stated that the raid took place within the Forward Operating Base, Bonny Area of Operations in Rivers State after naval operatives monitored suspected oil thieves for several weeks.
According to the statement, the naval team discovered concealed dugout pits hidden beneath thick vegetation in creeks around the Opotumbi general area, using the Navy’s maritime surveillance technology.
Folorunsho added that the recovered products were destroyed in accordance with operational guidelines.
He noted that the seizure underscores the Navy’s renewed resolve to combat crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.
