Nigerian Navy Destroys Illegal Crude Storage Facility, Recovers 17,500 Litres in Bonny Raid

The Nigerian Navy has dealt another setback to crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta after uncovering and destroying a large illegal crude oil storage facility hidden deep within the creeks of Bonny in Rivers State.

The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, resulted in the discovery and destruction of thousands of litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored in underground pits.
In a press statement, the Director of Naval Information, Captain Adams-Aliu Folorunsho, said the mission followed renewed directives from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to intensify the fight against crude oil theft and maritime crimes across Nigeria’s waterways.
He explained that personnel of the Nigerian Navy attached to the Forward Operating Base Bonny carried out the raid in Rivers State.
Naval operatives discovered the illegal facility in the Opotumbi general area after surveillance systems picked up suspicious movements within thick mangrove vegetation. Using advanced maritime surveillance technology, the team traced the illegal activity to concealed dug-out pits buried beneath dense foliage in the creeks.
During the operation, naval personnel uncovered four large dug-out storage pits containing about 17,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
According to the statement, the pits were carefully hidden to evade both aerial and ground detection. However, the Navy’s surveillance network and routine patrol operations eventually exposed the illicit site.
Following standard operational procedures, the seized crude oil was destroyed at the location.
The Director of Naval Information explained that the destruction was necessary to prevent the stolen crude from being reintroduced into the illegal market or used to support further criminal activities.
He noted that dismantling the illegal storage facility dealt a major blow to oil theft syndicates operating within the creeks.
Folorunsho said the operation highlights the Navy’s renewed drive to tackle crude oil theft and other maritime crimes. He added that the service has increased patrols, strengthened surveillance systems and improved collaboration with other security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime resources.
According to him, the campaign is aimed at protecting critical national infrastructure and defending the country’s economic interests.
Crude oil theft remains a major economic challenge in the Niger Delta, costing Nigeria billions of dollars in lost revenue.
He explained that illegal bunkering networks often operate hidden camps and storage pits in remote creeks where stolen crude is stockpiled before being transported to illegal refineries or foreign markets.
The Navy stated that its intensified operations are designed to dismantle such criminal networks and restore security across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Naval authorities also reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements undermining the nation’s oil economy and urged residents of coastal communities to continue providing useful information that could help security agencies track down oil theft syndicates.