The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a reactivated illegal refining cluster along the Rivers–Bayelsa border corridor as part of ongoing operations against crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Nigerian Navy, followed intelligence reports of renewed illegal refining activities around Egboama/Ogbogolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation involved coordinated land and water assaults backed by aerial surveillance to locate hidden refining infrastructure within the creek environment.
The Navy disclosed that drone reconnaissance exposed several illegal refining sites concealed within the terrain, leading to the discovery of refining ovens, dugout pits, storage facilities and equipment used for processing and transporting illegally refined petroleum products.
During the raid, naval operatives recovered about 5,500 litres of substances suspected to be crude oil and 3,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The operation also led to the seizure of generators, welding machines and other materials allegedly used to expand and reactivate the illegal refining camps.
The Navy said findings from the operation indicated deliberate efforts by criminal networks to rebuild refining infrastructure previously destroyed during earlier anti-crude oil theft operations in the area.
“All identified sites and equipment were subsequently deactivated and handled in accordance with operational procedures, while surveillance and follow-on monitoring of adjoining creek corridors remain ongoing,” the statement said.
The Navy further noted that ongoing operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL are now focused on preventing the re-emergence of illegal refining camps and dismantling support structures aiding crude oil theft syndicates in the Niger Delta.
It reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical national assets, safeguarding the maritime environment and denying economic saboteurs freedom of operation within the region.
