By Zainab Bakare
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta have uncovered a concealed crude oil storage facility allegedly used by oil thieves in the creeks of Delta State.
The illegal storage site was discovered during Operation Delta Sentinel following intelligence reports on suspected crude oil theft activities around Ugbokodo Creek.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
According to the statement, naval personnel, supported by aerial surveillance, launched a search operation in the area after receiving credible intelligence on the suspected illegal activity.
Although the location initially appeared free of suspicious activity, further analysis of drone footage revealed a large, freshly excavated reservoir that had been deliberately concealed with leaves, planks, wood, and dense vegetation to evade detection.
“Subsequent exploitation of the site uncovered approximately 17,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil stored within the camouflaged reservoir,” the statement said.
Folorunsho noted that the site showed clear signs of recent crude oil theft and was believed to have served as a temporary storage point within an illegal supply network.
“The discovery highlights the increasingly sophisticated concealment methods being adopted by criminal elements to sustain crude oil theft operations,” he added.
He further stated that the integration of intelligence-led operations and aerial surveillance continues to strengthen the Nigerian Navy’s capacity to detect and disrupt illegal activities in the region.
According to the Navy, the reservoir, recovered products, and associated materials were handled in line with established operational procedures, preventing economic saboteurs from accessing resources intended to support further criminal activities.
The statement reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining pressure on crude oil theft networks through Operation Delta Sentinel by leveraging continuous surveillance, intelligence-driven operations, and coordinated actions to safeguard Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and protect its economic interests.
