The Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to disrupt the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft in the Niger Delta with the discovery and neutralisation of multiple crude oil staging sites concealed within creek networks in Delta State.
In a statement signed by the Director Naval information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operations were conducted by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA under Operation DELTA SENTINEL as part of ongoing intelligence-led efforts to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining activities, and pipeline vandalism.
The statement said Acting on credible intelligence and supported by maritime patrol assets as well as aerial surveillance, naval personnel conducted targeted operations across Madangho Creek and the Ogbe-Ijaw axis, both identified as suspected transit and staging locations for stolen crude oil.
According to the statement, troops uncovered a network of facilities and materials associated with crude oil theft activities, including three reservoirs, a hose line, sixteen sacks and several cellophane bags suspected to be used for the storage and transportation of stolen crude oil.
The statement said approximately 6,500 litres of products suspected to be crude oil were discovered at the locations.
The findings reveal the existence of a coordinated logistics arrangement designed to temporarily aggregate and move stolen crude oil through remote creek channels while evading detection by security agencies.
The reservoirs, storage facilities, transportation materials, and recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with extant operational procedures, effectively denying criminal elements access to resources intended to sustain illicit operations.