By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy has sustained the operational momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL by pre-empting another attempt by crude oil theft syndicates to establish illegal storage infrastructure within the Bonny axis of Rivers State.
According to a statement issued by the Naval spokesman, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY conducted a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around Dema Abbey Community in Bonny Local Government Area, leading to the discovery of seven concealed dugout pits strategically established within the area.
He said preliminary assessment revealed that four of the dugout pits had been freshly excavated, while three contained water, indicating preparations to support crude oil theft activities. The discovery is consistent with recent operations in which similar concealed pits were found to have been used as temporary storage facilities for stolen crude oil prior to transportation to illegal refining sites.
According to him, the newly excavated pits were subsequently dismantled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying criminal elements the infrastructure required to establish another crude oil storage hub within the Bonny operational area.
He said the operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s proactive operational strategy of disrupting crude oil theft at its preparatory stage by targeting the infrastructure that enables illicit activities before it becomes functional. This preventive approach continues to weaken the logistics chain sustaining crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.
The statement said the Nigerian Navy remains steadfast in sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle criminal infrastructure, deny economic saboteurs freedom of action, and safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil and gas assets in support of national economic security.
