The Nigerian Navy has intercepted about 44,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products and arrested eight suspects during an anti-illegal oil operation in Rivers State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, who said the operation was carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of NNS PATHFINDER in the Degema/Ogbogoro/Ogbologo axis of the state.
According to Folorunsho, the naval patrol team acted on credible intelligence before intercepting two wooden boats loaded with suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. He explained that the interception was part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Navy to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.
He said the suspects were arrested at the scene and the products were seized in line with existing regulations and operational procedures. The seized petroleum products are believed to have been refined at illegal refineries operating in creeks and riverine communities in the region, where crude oil is often stolen and processed in makeshift facilities.
The Navy spokesman noted that illegal oil refining remains one of the major challenges affecting Nigeria’s oil production and the environment, as the process often leads to oil spills, water pollution, and destruction of farmlands and aquatic life. He said the Nigerian Navy has continued to intensify patrols across waterways to disrupt the activities of oil thieves and illegal refiners.
Folorunsho further stated that Operation Delta Sentinel has recorded several successes in recent months, including the destruction of illegal refining sites, seizure of stolen crude oil, and arrest of suspects involved in oil theft networks. He emphasised that the Navy will continue to work with other security agencies and stakeholders to protect the country’s oil infrastructure and economic resources.
He warned individuals involved in illegal oil bunkering and refining to desist from such activities, stressing that the Nigerian Navy will sustain its operations until illegal oil activities are significantly reduced in the region. He also called on community leaders and residents to support security agencies by providing useful information that could help in identifying and arresting those involved in illegal activities.
Security experts say the continued crackdown on illegal refining is important not only for protecting government revenue but also for safeguarding the environment and the health of people living in affected communities. Illegal refineries often release thick smoke and toxic substances into the air and water, posing serious health risks to residents.
Residents in parts of Rivers State have expressed mixed reactions to the operation. While many welcomed the Navy’s efforts to stop illegal refining and improve security, others called on the government to provide alternative sources of livelihood for youths in the Niger Delta who depend on illegal refining for survival.
The Nigerian Navy, however, maintained that while economic concerns are understandable, illegal oil activities remain criminal and harmful to the nation’s economy and environment. The service reiterated its commitment to sustaining the fight against oil theft and illegal refining, noting that such operations are crucial to national development and economic stability.
With the latest interception and arrests, the Nigerian Navy says it has once again demonstrated its readiness to protect Nigeria’s maritime environment and ensure that criminal networks involved in oil theft are dismantled.
