The Nigerian Navy has thwarted attempts by suspected oil thieves to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, uncovering over 120,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during a targeted operation.
Navy spokesman, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, in a press statement issued on Sunday, said the operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following credible intelligence on renewed illegal refining activities around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, the operation led to the discovery of two illegal refining sites comprising eight dugout pits and reservoirs containing about 15,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The Navy said the discovery underscored ongoing efforts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure that had previously been dismantled by security agencies in the area.
It noted that the operation not only disrupted the illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a refining network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and causing environmental degradation.
The illegal refining sites and recovered petroleum products were subsequently handled in line with existing anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying the suspects access to resources intended to support their operations.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, protecting critical national infrastructure and safeguarding the nation’s economic interests in the Niger Delta.
