The Nigerian Navy has recorded a major operational breakthrough under Operation DELTA SENTINEL with the dismantling of an illegal refining complex and the recovery of more than 205,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers State.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement, saying the operation was carried out based on credible intelligence.
Folorunsho said “Personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH conducted a targeted operation within the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area, where they uncovered a newly established illegal refining network.”
According to the Director, 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 scale of the discovery highlights the sophistication of criminal syndicates involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta. He noted that dismantling the facilities before they could sustain further production dealt a significant blow to economic saboteurs responsible for environmental degradation, crude oil theft and huge revenue losses to the nation.
“All illegal refining sites and recovered petroleum products were handled in line with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying the perpetrators access to infrastructure and products that could have sustained their criminal operations.” He stated.
The Navy spokesperson stressed that the successful operation demonstrates the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to sustain the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL by targeting the infrastructure, logistics and supply chains supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the Niger Delta.
He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and safeguarding critical oil and gas assets through sustained intelligence-driven operations in support of national economic security.
