Navy Uncovers 182,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bethel Creeks, Rivers State.

The discovery was made on September 22, 2026, by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) BONNY during a follow-up operation based on actionable intelligence on suspicious activities in the creeks.

According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation uncovered eight dugout pits, five of which contained the suspected stolen crude oil, while three were empty.

The Navy also discovered hoses reportedly used for the movement of crude oil, which were handled in line with established procedures.

The latest operation comes 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.

That earlier operation also exposed 19 dugout pits and associated infrastructure, pointing to efforts to establish facilities for the storage and handling of stolen crude oil.

The Navy said the successive discoveries underscore its focus on dismantling the storage and transfer infrastructure used by criminal operators to sustain crude oil theft.

It added that the latest operation would further constrain the availability of crude oil and supporting infrastructure for illegal exploitation in the area.