The Nigerian Navy has disrupted three illegal refining sites and recovered approximately 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
The Director, Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement saying the operation was conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the operation followed credible intelligence on the continued activities of criminal elements operating in the area.
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Folorunsho said “the naval personnel discovered three illegal refining sites containing eight dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs laden with approximately 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO”.
He said that “the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.”
The Director Naval Information said the latest operation came barely two weeks after NNS Pathfinder disrupted two illegal refining sites within the same general area on August 3, 2026.
He said: “the repeated disruption of illegal refining activities demonstrated the Navy’s sustained efforts to prevent criminal elements from regaining operational footholds and rebuilding illicit refining infrastructure.”
According to him, the continued operational pressure is also yielding positive results, with a decline in the reactivation of illegal refining sites in the area.
“This demonstrates the growing impact of sustained naval action in degrading the activities of crude oil theft and illegal refining networks,” he said.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to sustain Operation Delta Sentinel to protect critical national assets, disrupt illegal petroleum supply chains and support the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He added that the operation would continue to safeguard the nation’s economic interests.
