By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy says it has disrupted an emerging crude oil theft operation and recovered approximately 24,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of Forward Operating Base, FOB Bonny, under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following credible intelligence on attempts by criminal elements to establish illegal connections to oil infrastructure in the Bethel Community axis.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, troops discovered an illegal refining site with two pits containing about 24,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. Extensive hoses believed to have been installed for crude oil theft were also found.
“The illegal facilities and associated materials were subsequently handled in accordance with extant regulations,” Folorunsho said.
He noted that the operation disrupted the theft network before it became fully operational, thereby denying economic saboteurs the infrastructure needed to sustain illicit activities and inflict losses on the nation.
“The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, combat crude oil theft, protect critical oil and gas assets, and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment and economic prosperity,” the statement added.
