Nigerian Navy Dismantles Four Illegal Refineries, Recovers 77,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude in Rivers
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its campaign against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling four illegal refining sites and recovering about 77,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
The operation, carried out on May 31, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, followed intelligence reports indicating renewed illegal refining activities around the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to the statement signed by Captain AA Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the operation was launched after intelligence revealed attempts by economic saboteurs to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure that had previously been destroyed during earlier anti-crude oil theft operations.
The anti-crude oil theft team deployed a combination of aerial surveillance and riverine mobility assets to navigate the difficult creek terrain. Drone reconnaissance later identified multiple illegal refining locations hidden within the area.
A raid on the sites led to the discovery of four illegal refining camps comprising refining ovens, dugout pits and storage facilities containing an estimated 77,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Further investigations uncovered evidence that criminal elements were actively rebuilding refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security agencies, highlighting the persistence of crude oil theft syndicates operating in the region.
The Navy said the operation resulted in the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, including three refining ovens, two dugout pits and a reservoir used to sustain illegal refining activities.
The successful operation underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-driven surveillance and rapid-response actions under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, which is aimed at curbing crude oil theft and protecting critical national assets.
The Navy noted that all identified sites and recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, ensuring that criminal elements were denied access to resources intended to facilitate economic sabotage.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests, the Nigerian Navy pledged to sustain aggressive operations targeted at dismantling illegal refining infrastructure and combating crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
