The Nigerian Navy has uncovered an estimated 132,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Allison community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, disrupting an alleged illegal petroleum storage operation in the Niger Delta.
The discovery was made on October 22, 2026, by personnel of the Navy’s Forward Operating Base BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following actionable intelligence.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation led to the discovery of 10 dugout pits containing the suspected stolen crude oil.
He said the site and recovered products were handled in accordance with extant regulations.
Folorunsho explained that the operation underscored the importance of intelligence-led operations in identifying concealed petroleum stockpiles and dismantling infrastructure used for crude oil theft and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products.
He added that the Nigerian Navy would sustain efforts to locate and dismantle illegal refining facilities and disrupt networks involved in crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
The Navy also called on community leaders, residents, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to report cases of crude oil theft, illegal refining, suspicious petroleum storage and the unauthorised movement of petroleum products to the nearest security agency.
It stressed that timely and credible information from members of the public would enable security agencies to respond swiftly and prevent illicit activities from spreading.
The statement further emphasised that protecting Nigeria’s critical petroleum assets required vigilance and active collaboration between security agencies and the communities they serve.
The Navy urged residents to remain alert and support lawful efforts to safeguard the nation’s natural resources.
