The Nigerian Navy says it has recovered about 24,000 litres of a product suspected to be stolen crude oil during an operation against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The recovery was made by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation Delta Sentinel, following intelligence on an alleged attempt by criminal elements to establish illegal connections to oil infrastructure around the Bethel Community area.
According to the Navy, its personnel discovered an illegal refining site containing two pits with an estimated 24,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
The operation also led to the recovery of several hoses allegedly installed to facilitate crude oil theft.
“The operation led to the discovery of an illegal refining site, two pits containing approximately 24,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, as well as extensive hoses believed to have been installed in furtherance of crude oil theft activities,” the Navy said.
The military said the illegal facilities and other materials recovered at the site were subsequently dealt with in line with established regulations.
It said the operation disrupted what it described as an emerging crude oil theft network before it became fully operational.
“The successful operation disrupted an emerging crude oil theft network before it could become fully operational, further denying economic saboteurs the infrastructure required to sustain illicit activities and inflict economic losses on the nation,” the Navy said.
Navy intercepts suspected illegally refined AGO
In a separate operation in Rivers State, Navy personnel also intercepted about 17,000 litres of a product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The interception was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder during ongoing anti-crude oil theft operations within its area of responsibility.
The Navy’s Director of Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said personnel intercepted a speedboat allegedly transporting the suspected illegally refined petroleum product along the Onne-Okrika waterways.
“The operation led to the interception of a speedboat conveying the suspected illegally refined petroleum product along the Onne/Okrika waterways,” Folorunsho said.
He said the speedboat and the suspected illegally refined AGO had been handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, while efforts were continuing to identify and apprehend those allegedly linked to the operation.
Folorunsho said the latest operations demonstrated the Navy’s continued efforts to disrupt the illicit petroleum supply chain and protect the country’s oil and gas infrastructure.
“The latest operational success further demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s sustained commitment to disrupting the illicit petroleum supply chain, denying economic saboteurs freedom of action and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure from criminal exploitation,” he said.
The Navy said it would continue to conduct intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to combat crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.
It added that the operations were also aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime environment and supporting national economic security.
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