Odita Sunday 
Navy Disrupts Illegal Refining Resurgence, Recovers 103,000 Litres in Rivers
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has disrupted attempts by suspected oil thieves to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, recovering approximately 103,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The operation was carried out on August 22, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER following credible intelligence on illegal refining activities around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the naval personnel discovered and dismantled three illegal refining sites during the operation.
Folorunsho said the operation also led to the discovery of 12 dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs containing the suspected illegally refined products, as well as two pumping machines.
He said the latest operation came barely a week after NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two illegal refining sites in the same general area on August 15.
According to him, the successive operations have increased pressure on the infrastructure supporting illegal refining and reduced efforts by criminal elements to reactivate the sites.
He said the recovered products and equipment, as well as the affected illegal refining sites, were handled in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft and illegal refining.
The naval spokesman disclosed that no arrest was made during the operation because the suspected operators had fled before the arrival of the naval personnel.
Folorunsho said the latest operation demonstrated the impact of sustained naval pressure on facilities used for illegal refining and crude oil theft.
He added that the intervention would help deny criminal elements the capacity to rebuild their illicit operations and further protect Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.
The Director of Naval Information reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining Operation DELTA SENTINEL to tackle crude oil theft, disrupt economic sabotage and provide a secure environment for legitimate oil and gas production and investment.
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