The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a major illicit crude oil storage facility comprising ten dugout pits in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, as part of intensified efforts to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta.
In an operation conducted on Thursday by personnel of Forward Operating Base BONNY, naval forces uncovered the illegal infrastructure following actionable intelligence regarding suspicious storage activities within the Allison Community.
According to an operational report released on Friday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, five of the ten excavated pits contained an estimated 93,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining five were filled with water. A significant quantity of hoses used for the transfer and movement of crude oil was also recovered at the site.
“The operation sustained navy efforts to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities under Operation DELTA SENTINEL,” Captain Folorunsho stated.
All recovered products, dugout pits and associated materials were disposed of in accordance with established operational protocols, effectively denying criminal elements access to the infrastructure required to sustain their illicit trade.
The naval spokesman emphasised that the latest success underscores the service’s sustained operational pressure against crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta and demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.
“The navy remains resolute in protecting critical national assets, safeguarding Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure and denying economic saboteurs the freedom to operate within the nation’s maritime environment,” he added.