Nigerian Navy Foils Fresh Illegal Refining Operations in Rivers, Seizes 120,000 Litres of Petroleum Products
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta, thwarting renewed efforts by economic saboteurs to revive illegal refining operations in Rivers State.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, carried out a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the operation, naval personnel uncovered two illegal refining sites comprising eight dugout pits and reservoirs containing 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 attempts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure that had previously been dismantled by security agencies 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 illegal refining sites and recovered products were subsequently handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying the perpetrators access to resources intended to support their criminal activities.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, protecting critical national assets, and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests in the Niger Delta.
The latest operation underscores ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb oil-related crimes and protect the country’s petroleum resources from exploitation by criminal syndicates.
(NAVY Media)
