The Nigerian Navy has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities with the discovery of a massive stockpile of illegally refined petroleum products and the shutdown of a reactivated illegal refining site in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH following credible intelligence on the activities of oil theft syndicates in the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was supported by aerial surveillance and led to the discovery of an illegal refining site containing about 30,000 litres of suspected illegally sourced crude oil and 138,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The products were reportedly stored in reservoirs, refining facilities and more than 1,200 sacks concealed across the area for onward distribution.
The Navy said preliminary investigations revealed that the site had been reactivated by criminal elements despite previous enforcement actions, highlighting the determination of oil theft networks to continue illegal operations in the Niger Delta region.
As part of the operation, the illegal refining site was deactivated and a major fuel distribution network linked to economic sabotage was disrupted. The Navy added that all recovered products and associated facilities were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nation’s economic assets, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue to sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, denying economic saboteurs freedom of action, and safeguarding Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure.
The latest operation underscored ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb oil theft and illegal refining activities, which continue to pose significant challenges to Nigeria’s economy and the environment.
