The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, uncovering a concealed fuel storage facility and recovering about 87,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in the Okarki axis of Rivers State.
The latest operation was carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel, the military’s ongoing campaign aimed at dismantling illegal refining sites, disrupting crude oil theft networks and protecting critical national oil infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
The Federal Government has in recent months intensified security operations against crude oil theft, describing the menace as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy and oil production targets.
The military has repeatedly said sustained operations under various security initiatives are aimed at dismantling illegal refining camps, arresting oil thieves and safeguarding critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
A statement signed and released by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunso, on Sunday, stated that the discovery comes as security agencies continue to sustain coordinated operations against economic sabotage in the oil-rich region, where illegal refining and crude oil theft have remained major challenges despite repeated crackdowns by the military and other security agencies.
According to the Navy, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH carried out the operation after acting on credible intelligence.
The statement partly read, “The Nigerian Navy has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering under Operation DELTA SENTINEL with the disruption of a concealed fuel storage facility and the recovery of approximately 87,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in the Okarki axis of Rivers State.
