The Nigerian Navy has dismantled two illegal refining facilities and recovered 53,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products in Rivers State, intensifying its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operation demonstrated the Navy’s determination to sustain pressure on economic saboteurs involved in crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.
He said the operation, conducted on November 11 at Okarki community in Ahoada West Local Government Area, was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel following intelligence reports on illegal petroleum activities in the area.
The naval team discovered approximately eight dugout pits and several storage containers containing an estimated 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, popularly known as diesel.
The facilities and recovered petroleum products were subsequently handled in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft.
However, no arrests were made during the operation as the suspected operators reportedly fled the location before the arrival of the naval personnel.
The latest seizure represents another setback for illegal oil refining networks operating in the Niger Delta, where crude oil theft and unauthorised refining activities continue to threaten government revenue and the country’s petroleum production.
The operation also follows an earlier raid by NNS Pathfinder on October 10, during which three illegal refining sites were discovered and deactivated within the same general area.
The successive operations underscore the Navy’s intensified intelligence-led campaign to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure and deny criminal networks access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure, supporting national crude oil production and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests through sustained operations under Operation Delta Sentinel.
The recovery brings renewed attention to the scale of illegal petroleum activities in Rivers State and the security challenges confronting efforts to protect oil-producing communities and critical energy infrastructure.
Navy busts two illegal refineries, recovers 53,000 litres of stolen petroleum in Rivers State