By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered about 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bethel Creeks, Rivers State.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the discovery was made by Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny on September 22, 2026, during a follow-up operation based on actionable intelligence on suspicious activities around the creeks.
According to him, the operation uncovered eight dugout pits, five of which contained suspected stolen crude oil, while three were empty. Hoses used for movement of crude oil were also discovered and handled in accordance with established procedures.
The latest discovery comes barely two weeks after FOB Bonny uncovered about 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at four newly activated illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on September 8, 2026.
The earlier operation also exposed 19 dugout pits and associated infrastructure, indicating attempts to establish facilities for storage and handling of stolen crude oil.
Folorunsho said the successive discoveries highlight the Nigerian Navy’s expanding focus on denying criminal operators the storage and transfer infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft, rather than allowing illicit activities to become re-established after previous disruptions.
He added that the latest operation further constrains the availability of crude oil and supporting infrastructure for illegal exploitation within the area.
