Nigerian Navy destroys illegal fuel depot, seizes 13,000 litres of diesel in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has dismantled an illegal fuel storage facility in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering about 13,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.

The operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation DELTA SENTINEL as part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal petroleum activities in the Niger Delta.

In a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Navy said the operatives uncovered a concealed facility equipped with large storage tanks, underground reservoirs, heavy-duty hoses and numerous drums believed to have been used for the storage and distribution of illegally refined petroleum products.

According to the statement, the facility was allegedly being used by criminal syndicates involved in the illegal petroleum trade, with the recovered diesel intended for distribution through waterways in the region.

“The illegal facility is believed to have supported criminal activities linked to the unlawful petroleum products trade, thereby undermining national economic interests and the integrity of Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure,” Folorunsho said.

He added that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those behind the operation, noting that all recovered products and equipment were handled in accordance with established procedures for combating crude oil theft.

The Navy said the latest operation forms part of its sustained crackdown on illegal refining, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering across the Niger Delta under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.

It explained that the strategy focuses on intercepting illegal petroleum products before they enter commercial distribution channels, dismantling storage facilities used by criminal networks and maintaining continuous surveillance of key waterways to protect critical oil infrastructure.

The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at safeguarding the country’s economic assets, reducing revenue losses caused by oil theft and supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to increase crude oil production.

The service also assured residents and stakeholders in the Niger Delta that operations against illegal oil activities would continue across the region.