Odita Sunday 
Navy Destroys Illegal Refineries, Recovers 43,000 Litres of Petroleum Products in Rivers
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft, dismantling four illegal refining sites and recovering about 43,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products during a fresh operation in Rivers State, dealing another blow to recurring illegal refining networks operating in the Niger Delta.
The operation was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO, who said the successful raid formed part of the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Navy’s intelligence-driven campaign against crude oil theft and economic sabotage.
According to the statement, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER acted on credible intelligence to carry out a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, where they uncovered four illegal refining sites.
The Navy said the operation led to the recovery of approximately 28,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 15,000 litres of suspected Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) concealed in dugout pits, reservoirs and sacks. The illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled, while the recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
The statement noted that the latest operation represents another major setback for criminal elements who have repeatedly re-established illegal refining camps in the area despite previous enforcement efforts.
It added that the continued reactivation of the sites reflects the determination of crude oil theft syndicates to sustain their illicit operations, but stressed that the Nigerian Navy remains equally committed to denying the criminals any opportunity to regain operational footholds.
The Navy reaffirmed that through sustained operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, it will continue to target illegal refining networks, disrupt crude oil theft, protect Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, and safeguard the nation’s maritime environment and economic interests.
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