Nigerian Navy Discovers 75,000 Litres of Suspected Crude Oil in Delta
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 75,000 litres of substance suspected to be crude oil stored in three dugout reservoirs in the Oteghele general area of Delta State during separate operations conducted on October 12 and 14, 2026.
The discoveries were made by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) DELTA under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, as part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
According to the Navy, the first operation on October 12 led to the discovery of about 30,000 litres of suspected crude oil in one dugout reservoir.
A subsequent operation on October 14 resulted in the discovery of an additional 45,000 litres of suspected crude oil stored in two large reservoirs, bringing the total volume uncovered during the operations to approximately 75,000 litres.
The Navy said the reservoirs and their contents were handled in accordance with established procedures.
It noted that the discoveries underscored the existence of concealed storage facilities potentially used to accumulate and facilitate the movement of suspected stolen crude oil.
According to the Navy, uncovering such stockpiles disrupts a critical link in the illicit petroleum trade and limits opportunities for the illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s oil resources.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to identify and dismantle facilities suspected of supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining.
It added that the operations would continue to target oil thieves, disrupt illicit petroleum activities and protect critical national assets.
The Navy said the ultimate objective was to curb oil-related economic sabotage, protect the country’s petroleum infrastructure and safeguard government revenue.
