Navy Recovers 92,660 Litres of Illegally Refined Diesel in Rivers

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Nigerian Navy has recovered 92,660 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, during an operation targeting crude oil theft and illegal petroleum activities in Rivers State.

In a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the recovery was made under Operation Delta Sentinel following credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves operating along the Rivers-Bayelsa border corridor.

The statement said personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh deployed to Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, where aerial surveillance and follow-up search operations led to the discovery of 138 sacks containing the suspected illegally refined product.

The products were reportedly concealed under vegetation and hidden at different locations along adjoining waterways in an apparent attempt to evade security surveillance.

According to the Navy, the discovery highlights the growing use of creek-side storage facilities by criminal networks involved in the illegal petroleum trade.

The recovered products were handled in line with existing regulations, while the operation denied economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support illicit activities.

The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at disrupting crude oil theft and dismantling illegal petroleum distribution networks across the Niger Delta.