The Nigerian Navy has seized 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled an illegal refinery in the Niger Delta as part of ongoing efforts to curb oil theft in the region.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Navy’s Director of Information, Abiodun Folorunsho.
Folorunsho said the operation was carried out 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.
According to the statement, the operation took place within the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny Area of Operations in Rivers State, after naval operatives monitored the activities of suspected oil thieves for several weeks.
Using the Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, the team located concealed dugout pits hidden beneath thick vegetation in creeks around the Opotumbi general area.
The pits contained approximately 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, which were subsequently destroyed in line with operational guidelines, Folorunsho said.
He added that the seizure highlights the Navy’s renewed commitment to tackling crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across the Niger Delta.
