Navy Dismantles Three Illegal Refineries, Recovers 61,000 Litres in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy has dismantled three newly established illegal refining sites and recovered 61,000 litres of petroleum products suspected to have been stolen or illegally refined in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of the state.
The Navy said the operation led to the discovery and deactivation of three illegal refining sites linked to ongoing crude oil theft activities in the area.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the personnel recovered approximately 43,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and 18,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
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The products were concealed in 12 dugout pits and reservoirs, bringing the total volume recovered during the operation to 61,000 litres.
The latest operation highlights the continued efforts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure despite sustained military enforcement operations in the Niger Delta.
The Navy recalled that similar illegal refining facilities were dismantled within the same general area in July, indicating attempts by crude oil theft syndicates to re-establish their operations.
The Service said sustained operational presence in identified hotspots would continue to deny economic saboteurs the opportunity to rebuild their networks while protecting critical national assets.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, disrupt crude oil theft networks and safeguard Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.
By PRNigeria
