The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, recovering approximately 22,870 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during a successful intelligence-led operation in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, targeted illegal fuel movement through creek corridors and dealt another blow to criminal networks involved in illicit petroleum activities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH acted on credible intelligence and deployed to the Orashi Forest area of Okolomade Community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, bordering Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to him, the patrol team intercepted a wooden boat transporting 36 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO along an adjoining creek.
“To further exploit the intelligence, aerial surveillance was conducted using a drone, leading to the identification of additional concealed stockpiles hidden under vegetation and inside ponds within the general area,” he stated.
The subsequent search led to the recovery of an additional 45 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed at different locations, bringing the total recovery to 81 sacks containing about 22,870 litres.
The operation also denied criminal elements the use of the intercepted wooden boat, which was being used to transport the illicit petroleum products.
Captain Folorunsho noted that the recovered products and the wooden boat were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, further disrupting the logistics chain supporting illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta.
He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, deny criminal elements freedom of action across the nation’s waterways, and safeguard Nigeria’s strategic economic assets.
The latest seizure underscores the Navy’s continued efforts to combat oil theft and illegal refining, which remain major threats to Nigeria’s economy, the environment, and national security.
