Navy Seizes 92,660 Litres of Illicit Diesel, Disrupts Oil‑Theft Ring in Rivers State

By: Kingsley Omonobi

The Nigerian Navy has seized 92,660 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and disrupted an oil‑theft ring operating along the Rivers–Bayelsa border corridor.

The seizure was part of Operation Delta Sentinel. Navy personnel discovered the AGO concealed in 138 sacks at creek‑side sites in Rivers State.

Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Information, announced the operation on Saturday. He said the recovery followed credible intelligence and coordinated surveillance.

According to Folorunsho, crew from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh were deployed to the Okolomade Community in Abua‑Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State. Aerial surveillance and subsequent ground searches uncovered the hidden sacks.

Folorunsho noted that the 138 sacks were hidden under vegetation and along adjoining waterways, illustrating the growing use of creek‑side storage by criminal syndicates involved in illegal petroleum activities.

“The operation highlights the increasing use of concealed creek‑side storage points by criminal networks involved in the illegal petroleum trade,” he said.

The Navy spokesman added that the recovered AGO was handled in accordance with existing regulations, preventing those behind the illegal activities from accessing resources that could sustain their operations.

“The recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with extant regulations, denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to sustain illicit activities,” Folorunsho stated.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to intelligence‑led operations aimed at combating crude oil theft and dismantling illegal petroleum distribution networks across the Niger Delta.

“The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence‑driven operations aimed at disrupting crude oil theft and illegal petroleum distribution networks across the Niger Delta,” he added.

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