The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, thwarting renewed efforts by economic saboteurs to re-establish illegal refining sites in Rivers State as part of ongoing operations to safeguard the nation’s oil infrastructure and economic interests.
In a statement, the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho disclosed that acting on credible intelligence, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL conducted a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, during the operation, naval personnel uncovered 2 illegal refining sites comprising 8 dugout pits and reservoirs containing approximately 15,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He noted that the discovery is particularly significant as it highlights ongoing attempts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security forces within the same area.
Folorunsho said that “the operation therefore not only disrupted illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a refining network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and environmental degradation”.
Consequently, the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support their criminal enterprise.
The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, protect critical national infrastructure, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests in the Niger Delta.
