Operation Delta Sentinel: Navy Uncovers 10 Pits Containing 132,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude Oil
The Nigerian Navy has discovered 10 dugout pits containing an estimated 132,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Allison community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The discovery followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted on October 22, 2026, by the Forward Operating Base Bonny under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The operation uncovered what the Navy described as a potential storage point in the illegal petroleum supply chain, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and other illicit petroleum-related activities in the Niger Delta.
The Navy disclosed that the site and recovered products were handled in line with extant regulations.
It noted that intelligence-led operations remain critical to identifying hidden petroleum stockpiles and disrupting the networks responsible for crude oil theft and the unauthorised transportation and storage of petroleum products.
The service reiterated its determination to intensify efforts to identify and dismantle illegal refining infrastructure while targeting networks facilitating crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
As part of measures to strengthen the fight against petroleum-related crimes, the Navy urged community leaders, residents, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency.
It specifically encouraged the public to provide information about crude oil theft, illegal refining operations, suspicious petroleum storage locations and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products.
According to the Navy, timely and credible intelligence from the public could facilitate rapid security intervention and prevent illegal operations from spreading.
The service maintained that protecting Nigeria’s critical petroleum assets requires sustained vigilance and cooperation between security agencies and local communities.
It therefore called on Nigerians to support lawful security operations and remain vigilant in protecting the nation’s resources.
