Odita Sunday 
Nigerian Navy Dismantles Major Illegal Refining Hub, Recovers 205,680 Litres of Petroleum Products in Rivers
By Odita Sunday
The Nigerian Navy has dealt a major blow to crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta, dismantling a large illegal refining complex and recovering more than 205,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during a targeted operation in Rivers State.
The development was disclosed in a press statement signed by ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO, Navy Captain and Director Naval Information, who said the feat was recorded under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Navy’s ongoing intelligence-driven campaign against crude oil theft and economic sabotage.
According to the statement, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, acting on credible intelligence, carried out the operation within the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area, where they uncovered a newly established illegal refining network.
The operation led to the discovery and deactivation of three illegal refining sites comprising six refining ovens, three reservoirs and four dugout pits. The sites contained about 38,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and approximately 167,180 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), bringing the total volume of recovered products to 205,680 litres.
The Navy said the scale of the discovery highlights the growing sophistication of criminal syndicates engaged in crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, noting that dismantling the facilities before they could sustain further production dealt a significant setback to criminal networks responsible for economic sabotage, environmental degradation and the loss of national revenue.
It added that the illegal refining sites and all recovered products were handled in line with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, thereby denying economic saboteurs access to infrastructure and products used to sustain their illicit operations.
The statement further reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy would maintain the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL by intensifying operations against the infrastructure, logistics and supply chains that support crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.
The Navy also reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and protecting critical oil and gas assets through sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at strengthening national economic security.
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