) The Nigerian Navy has recovered approximately 24,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers.
This is contained in an operational report by the Director, Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, made available on Saturday in Abuja.
Folorunsho said that the recovery followed an operation conducted by personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny.
He also said that the operation followed credible intelligence on suspected attempts by criminal elements to establish illegal connections to oil infrastructure within the Bethel Community axis.
“The operation led to the discovery of an illegal refining site, two pits containing approximately 24, 000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, as well as extensive hoses believed to have been installed in furtherance of crude oil theft activities.
“The illegal facilities and associated materials were subsequently handled in accordance with extant regulations,” he said.
He said that the successful operation disrupted an emerging crude oil theft network before it could become fully operational.
He added that this had further denied economic saboteurs the infrastructure required to sustain illicit activities and inflict economic losses on the nation.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure.
He said the service would continue to combat crude oil theft, protect critical oil and gas assets, and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment and economic prosperity.(NAN)
