Navy Shuts Two Illegal Refineries In Rivers, Seizes 53,000 Litres Of Stolen Petroleum
By Sunday Etuka
Naval operatives have shut down two illegal refining sites in Okarki Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, and recovered 53,000 litres of stolen petroleum product, the Nigerian Navy has announced.
The Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said in a statement on Thursday that Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER carried out the operation yesterday under Operation Delta Sentinel, acting on credible intelligence about illegal petroleum activities in the area.
He said the two sites had about eight dugout pits and storage containers holding an estimated 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
According to the statement, the sites and the stored products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrests were made because the suspected operators fled before the naval team arrived.
Folorunsho said the operation reinforces the Navy’s sustained efforts to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure and disrupt crude oil theft networks.
He added that it follows an earlier operation by NNS PATHFINDER in the same general area on 10 October 2026, when three illegal refining sites were discovered and deactivated.
He said the successive operations show the Service’s resolve to deny economic saboteurs access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
The Navy said it remains committed to intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, support national crude oil production and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
