Navy destroys illegal crude oil storage site in Rivers
Nigerian Navy Dismantles Illegal Oil Storage in Rivers State
The Nigerian Navy announced the destruction of an illegal crude oil storage site in the Bonny area of Rivers State, where approximately 17,500 liters of suspected stolen crude oil were found.
In a statement issued on Friday, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, said the operation was part of Operation Delta Sentinel. This action aligns with directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, aimed at intensifying the fight against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering within the country’s maritime domain.
Personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny discovered the illegal facility during routine surveillance in the Opotumbi area. The discovery, facilitated by the Navy’s maritime surveillance technology, revealed concealed dugout pits obscured by dense vegetation in the region’s creeks.
Folorunsho reported that members of FOB Bonny promptly responded to the scene and located four dugout pits containing a total of 17,500 liters of what is believed to be stolen crude oil. The Navy subsequently destroyed the recovered products in accordance with established operational guidelines.
This operation underscores the Navy’s renewed commitment to combatting crude oil theft and other maritime crimes. Folorunsho emphasized that the Navy will continue its patrols, enhance surveillance efforts, and strengthen cooperation with other agencies to safeguard critical national assets and protect Nigeria’s economic interests in the maritime environment.
