The Nigerian Navy has uncovered an additional 25,000 litres of substance suspected to be crude oil in a dugout reservoir in Oteghele, Delta State, bringing the total quantity recovered in the area to 65,000 litres within two days.
The latest discovery was made on Thursday by Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA (NNS DELTA), following credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft and illegal petroleum storage.
The recovery comes a day after the naval team discovered approximately 40,000 litres of suspected crude oil in another operation in the same area on October 7.
The Navy said the reservoir and its contents were handled in accordance with established procedures.
Nigerian Navy, in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the successive discoveries underscored the importance of sustained operations against locations suspected of being used for the illegal storage of petroleum products.
He said the operations formed part of the Navy’s efforts to prevent criminal operators from unlawfully exploiting the nation’s petroleum resources.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s critical economic assets and sustaining the fight against crude oil theft and related illegal activities.
