The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 56,800 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and disrupted two illegal refining sites in Ogbogolo community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation, conducted on November 13, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS, SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, followed credible intelligence on illegal refining activities within the Orashi Forest.
The Navy disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
According to the statement, the two illegal refining sites contained one refining oven, 22 dugout pits and four sacks containing suspected stolen crude oil.
The first site held approximately 1,800 litres of crude oil, while the second contained an estimated 55,000 litres, bringing the total quantity recovered to about 56,800 litres.
The Navy said the discovered products and associated items were handled in accordance with established procedures for combating crude oil theft.
It described the operation as part of its sustained efforts to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure and disrupt networks responsible for the theft of the nation's petroleum resources.
The Service further emphasised that its intelligence-driven operations were aimed at denying economic saboteurs access to the country's oil resources while protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operational pressure on crude oil thieves and illegal refiners in support of national crude oil production, economic security and the protection of Nigeria's maritime interests.
Navy uncovers 56,800 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, destroys illegal refining sites in Rivers