By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its ongoing campaign against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, uncovering a concealed crude oil storage site and recovering approximately 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Delta State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA, followed credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft activities around the Ugbokodo Creek area.
According to the Navy, the operation was supported by aerial surveillance, which enabled personnel to identify a large reservoir that had been carefully hidden beneath leaves, wooden planks and dense vegetation. Initial observations suggested the area was free of suspicious activity, but further analysis of drone imagery revealed the camouflaged storage facility.
A subsequent search uncovered about 17,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil stored in the concealed reservoir. The site also showed evidence of recent illegal oil bunkering activities and is believed to have served as a temporary storage point within a wider crude oil theft network.
The Navy noted that the discovery underscores the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by criminal elements involved in oil theft. It, however, emphasized that the use of intelligence-led operations and advanced aerial surveillance continues to strengthen its capacity to detect and dismantle such illicit operations.
Recovered products, the storage reservoir and other associated materials were handled in line with established operational procedures, effectively preventing their use in further illegal activities.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s oil assets, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue to sustain pressure on crude oil theft syndicates through enhanced surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and coordinated enforcement actions aimed at protecting Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure and economic interests.
