By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its campaign against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, uncovering a concealed fuel storage facility and recovering approximately 87,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in the Okarki area of Rivers State.

The operation was conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel, a sustained military initiative aimed at dismantling illegal refining camps, disrupting crude oil theft networks, and safeguarding critical oil and gas infrastructure across the Niger Delta region.

The Federal Government has in recent months stepped up efforts to combat crude oil theft, describing the illicit activity as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy, energy security, and crude oil production targets.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunso, said the operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH following credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves operating in the area.

According to the Navy, the intelligence-led operation led to the discovery of a hidden storage facility allegedly used for the illegal stockpiling and distribution of petroleum products.

“The Nigerian Navy has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering under Operation Delta Sentinel with the disruption of a concealed fuel storage facility and the recovery of approximately 87,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil in the Okarki axis of Rivers State,” the statement said.

The Navy disclosed that the facility contained large quantities of suspected illegally refined AGO, as well as equipment believed to have been used in the unlawful storage and handling of petroleum products.

Folorunso stated that all recovered products and associated items were processed in accordance with established operational procedures, while investigations into the ownership and operation of the facility were ongoing.

The service noted that the discovery exposed the evolving tactics employed by criminal syndicates involved in illegal refining and petroleum product trafficking across the Niger Delta.

According to the Navy, such groups continue to establish concealed storage and distribution hubs to sustain the illicit petroleum trade despite ongoing military crackdowns in the region.

“The discovery further highlights the persistent efforts of criminal networks to establish hidden storage and distribution points within the Niger Delta to sustain the illegal petroleum products trade. By identifying and dismantling such facilities, the Nigerian Navy continues to degrade the logistics infrastructure that supports crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s economic assets, the Navy said the successful operation underscores its resolve to deny economic saboteurs freedom of operation while supporting the Federal Government’s drive to boost crude oil production and economic growth.

The latest seizure is part of a series of intensified operations by security agencies targeting oil theft and illegal refining activities, which continue to cost the nation billions of naira in lost revenue annually.