Navy foils fresh bid to revive illegal refineries in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in its campaign against crude oil theft, dismantling two illegal refining sites that had been secretly restored by suspected oil thieves in Rivers State and recovering more than 126,000 litres of suspected petroleum products.

The development forms part of the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL, through which the navy says it is maintaining pressure on illegal refining camps and preventing criminal groups from resuming activities in known hotspots.

The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the latest operation in an operational report issued on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, naval personnel attached to Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER had earlier uncovered and destroyed illegal refining camps in the Egbema area of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area on July 10. However, intelligence later revealed that some of the dismantled facilities had been brought back into operation, prompting renewed surveillance and follow-up raids.

He said the latest operation successfully disrupted those efforts.

“During the latest operation, NNS PATHFINDER personnel rediscovered and deactivated two reactivated illegal refining sites, recovering approximately 76,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.

“They also recovered 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in seven dugout pits and reservoirs, bringing the total volume of recovered petroleum products to over 126,000 litres.

“The operation demonstrates the navy’s determination to deny crude oil thieves the opportunity to regain operational footholds or rebuild illegal refining infrastructure within its area of responsibility,” he said.

Folorunsho explained that the destroyed facilities and all recovered products were processed in line with existing procedures for combating crude oil theft, adding that security forces were sustaining pressure on identified criminal locations.

He reiterated the navy’s resolve to continue intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling illegal refining camps, disrupting oil theft syndicates, safeguarding strategic national assets and strengthening the country’s economic security.