The Nigerian Navy has thwarted attempts by crude oil thieves to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, uncovering two illicit refining sites and recovering about 120,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following credible intelligence on renewed illegal refining activities in the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, naval personnel discovered two illegal refining sites comprising eight dugout pits and reservoirs during the targeted anti-crude oil theft operation.
The sites contained approximately 15,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The Navy described the discovery as significant, noting that it exposed ongoing efforts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security forces in the area.
“The operation not only disrupted illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a refining network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and environmental degradation,” the statement said.
The recovered products and illegal refining sites were handled in line with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs the resources needed to continue their criminal operations.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, protecting critical national infrastructure and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests in the Niger Delta.
The Navy also pledged to maintain pressure on oil thieves and other criminal elements threatening the nation’s energy security and economic stability.
