RismadarVoice Reporters
September 22, 2026
The Nigerian Navy has discovered approximately 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bethel Creeks, Rivers State, in another operation aimed at disrupting illegal crude oil storage and transfer activities in the area.
The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the discovery was made by the Forward Operating Base, FOB Bonny, during a follow-up operation based on actionable intelligence regarding suspicious activities in the creeks.
According to him, the operation, conducted on September 22, 2026, uncovered eight dugout pits, five of which contained the suspected stolen crude oil, while the remaining three were empty.
He added that hoses believed to have been used for the movement of crude oil were also discovered and subsequently handled in accordance with established procedures.
Folorunsho said the latest discovery came barely two weeks after FOB Bonny uncovered approximately 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at four newly activated illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on September 8.
He said the earlier operation also exposed 19 dugout pits and other infrastructure, suggesting efforts by criminal operators to establish facilities for storing and handling stolen crude oil.
The Navy spokesman said the successive discoveries demonstrated the service’s continued efforts to disrupt the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft, particularly storage and transfer facilities.
He added that the latest operation would further restrict the availability of crude oil and related infrastructure for illegal exploitation in the area.
