Odita Sunday 
Navy dismantles illegal crude oil storage pits in Rivers, foils oil theft plot
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling seven concealed dugout pits allegedly prepared for illegal crude oil storage in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Navy said the operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, successfully thwarted an attempt by crude oil theft syndicates to establish a new storage hub for stolen crude.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny carried out a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around Dema Abbey Community, where the concealed pits were discovered.
Folorunsho said preliminary findings showed that four of the seven pits had been freshly excavated, while the remaining three were already filled with water, indicating preparations for crude oil theft activities.
He explained that similar concealed pits uncovered during previous operations had been used as temporary storage facilities for stolen crude before it was moved to illegal refining sites.
The Navy spokesman said the newly excavated pits were immediately dismantled in line with operational procedures, preventing the criminals from using the facilities.
”The operation reflects the Nigerian Navy’s proactive operational strategy of disrupting crude oil theft at its preparatory stage by targeting the infrastructure that enables illicit activities before it becomes functional. This preventive approach continues to weaken the logistics chain sustaining crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta,” he said.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations against economic saboteurs.
”The Nigerian Navy remains steadfast in sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle criminal infrastructure, deny economic saboteurs freedom of action, and safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil and gas assets in support of national economic security,” he added.
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