The Nigerian Navy has uncovered a concealed crude oil storage site and recovered about 17,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil during an anti-crude oil theft operation in Delta State.
The discovery was made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA following intelligence reports on suspected illegal oil bunkering activities around the Ugbokodo Creek area.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was supported by aerial surveillance and targeted locations believed to be linked to crude oil theft networks operating in the Niger Delta.
The Navy said initial searches of the area did not reveal any obvious signs of illegal activity. However, further analysis of drone imagery exposed a large reservoir that had been deliberately concealed beneath leaves, wooden planks and thick vegetation.
Subsequent inspection of the site led to the recovery of approximately 17,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil stored in the camouflaged reservoir.
The Navy noted that the site showed evidence of recent crude oil theft activities and was believed to have served as a temporary storage facility within an illicit supply chain.
The discovery, according to the service, highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by criminal elements involved in crude oil theft and illegal bunkering operations.
Despite these evolving tactics, the Navy said the use of intelligence-led operations and aerial surveillance continues to strengthen its capacity to detect, disrupt and dismantle illegal networks threatening the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure.
“The reservoir, recovered products and associated materials were handled in accordance with extant operational procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support further criminal activities,” the statement said.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on crude oil theft syndicates through Operation DELTA SENTINEL, stressing that surveillance, intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement actions remain critical to protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and critical energy infrastructure.
Crude oil theft remains a major challenge in the Niger Delta, contributing to revenue losses, environmental degradation and threats to national energy security.
