Special Boat operatives of the Nigerian Navy have destroyed an illegal oil bunkering site in Rivers State, seizing about 17,500 litres of crude oil suspected to have been stolen from the nation’s oil facilities.
The operation, conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, is part of the Navy’s intensified campaign to curb crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta.
The Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the operation in a statement on Friday, noting that the site was discovered during a routine patrol and surveillance within the Bonny area of operations.
According to Folorunsho, naval operatives uncovered four large dug-out pits hidden beneath thick vegetation around the Opotumbi general area. The pits were reportedly being used to store crude oil siphoned illegally from pipelines.
“The unit, leveraging the Nigerian Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, uncovered concealed dugout pits hidden beneath thick vegetation within creeks in the Opotumbi area. The recovered products were subsequently destroyed in accordance with operational guidelines,” Folorunsho said.
He explained that the facility was detected through the Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, which enabled operatives to identify suspicious activities in the creeks. The Forward Operating Base Bonny swiftly mobilised personnel to the location, confirming the presence of the illegal site and the 17,500 litres of crude oil.
The naval spokesman emphasized that the operation highlights the Navy’s determination to combat crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other maritime crimes that threaten Nigeria’s economic stability.
He added that the Navy continues to intensify operations across Niger Delta waterways through sustained patrols, improved intelligence gathering, and the deployment of advanced surveillance technology.
Folorunsho noted that the crackdown follows directives from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who ordered all naval formations to strengthen efforts to protect critical national assets and secure Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“The Navy remains committed to denying oil thieves and other criminal elements freedom to operate within the country’s territorial waters and creek networks,” he said, adding that the service will continue to collaborate with other security agencies and stakeholders to safeguard oil infrastructure and protect the nation’s economic interests in the maritime environment.
