By ESTHER McWILLIS-IKHIDE

Navy Recovers 105,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude in Delta

THE Nigerian Navy has recovered 105,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil in Delta State.

The recovery followed a series of operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

The operations were conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel within the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta Area of Operation.

The Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development.

He said naval personnel also discovered concealed storage facilities allegedly used to stockpile stolen crude in the Oteghele axis of Delta State.

The recovered products comprised 60,000 litres and 45,000 litres found at separate locations.

Folorunsho said the operations were designed to disrupt crude oil theft networks and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure.

He said the crackdown would also help reduce the economic losses caused by crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

The Navy said the latest operation reflects its continued efforts to dismantle the infrastructure supporting oil theft across the Niger Delta.

The service also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime environment and oil assets.

The latest recovery comes amid renewed security operations against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal refining.

These activities have continued to threaten Nigeria’s crude oil production and government revenue.

Security agencies have recently intensified operations across Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states.

The operations have led to the discovery and destruction of illegal refining sites, arrests of suspected oil thieves and recovery of stolen petroleum products.

Security forces have also continued operations under Operation Delta Safe to protect critical oil infrastructure and improve crude oil production.

Despite the intensified crackdown, crude oil theft and illegal refining remain persistent problems in parts of the Niger Delta.

Regulators and industry stakeholders have linked the activities to oil spills, environmental degradation and major revenue losses.

The Navy said it would sustain its operations against criminal networks involved in oil theft and illegal bunkering.