The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday, September 22, uncovered about 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil at Bethel Creeks in Rivers state.
The discovery was made by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny during a follow-up operation based on information received about suspicious activities in the area.
According to the Navy, the operation was part of sustained efforts to prevent oil thieves and other criminal elements from re-establishing illegal activities in areas previously targeted by security operations.
During the operation, the naval personnel discovered eight dugout pits at the site, five of which contained the substance suspected to be stolen crude oil, while the remaining three were found empty.
The Navy said the discovery brought the quantity of suspected stolen crude oil uncovered during the operation to approximately 182,000 litres.
Hoses believed to have been used to move crude oil were also discovered at the site.
The Navy said the recovered hoses were handled in line with established procedures as the personnel continued efforts to disrupt activities associated with the illegal storage and movement of crude oil.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, who disclosed the development said the latest discovery came about two weeks after personnel of the FOB Bonny uncovered approximately 87,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil at four newly activated illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on September 8.
According to him, the earlier operation also led to the discovery of 19 dugout pits and other infrastructure intended for the storage and handling of stolen crude oil.
He said the latest operation, followed information indicating suspicious activities in the Bethel Creeks area and was aimed at preventing criminal elements from returning to sites previously used for the storage and movement of stolen crude oil.
The Navy said the repeated discovery of dugout pits and other infrastructure in the area highlighted the need for sustained surveillance and follow-up operations to prevent oil thieves from re-establishing illegal activities.
It said its personnel would continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations in the creeks and other waterways within its area of responsibility as part of efforts to protect the nation’s oil resources.
The Navy said the latest operation was specifically aimed at denying oil thieves access to sites used to store and move stolen crude oil and preventing the re-establishment of illegal activities in the area.
The service also reiterated its commitment to sustaining operations against crude oil theft and other forms of maritime criminality in the Niger Delta.
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