Delta: Navy Discovers 40,000 Litres Of Suspected Crude Oil In Dugout

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered about 40,000 litres of substance suspected to be crude oil stored in a large dugout reservoir in the Oteghele general area of Delta State.

The discovery was made on October 7, 2026, by the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta (NNS DELTA) during an anti-crude oil theft operation based on credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft and other illicit activities in the area.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Folorunsho said the recovered substance and dugout reservoir were handled in accordance with established procedures.

He added that the latest discovery followed an earlier operation by NNS DELTA in the Oteghele area on September 21, during which about 30,000 litres of suspected crude oil were uncovered.

According to him, the repeated discoveries highlight the Navy’s ongoing efforts to disrupt illegal crude oil storage and prevent criminal operators from accessing the nation’s petroleum resources.

He said, “The Nigerian Navy will continue to sustain intelligence-led operations across its Area of Operations to disrupt crude oil theft and protect the nation’s critical petroleum resources.”