By Richard Benjamin
The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a major illegal refining operation in Rivers State, recovering more than 205,680 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during an intelligence-led operation.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the operation was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL in the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to Folorunsho, the operation followed credible intelligence on illegal refining activities in the area and resulted in the discovery and dismantling of three illegal refining sites.
He said the facilities comprised six refining ovens, three reservoirs and four dugout pits containing approximately 38,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 167,180 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), bringing the total volume recovered to 205,680 litres.
Folorunsho described the discovery as evidence of the sophistication of criminal networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.
He said dismantling the facilities before production could continue dealt a significant blow to economic saboteurs responsible for revenue losses and environmental degradation.
The naval spokesperson added that all recovered products and equipment were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying the operators access to infrastructure and products used to sustain their illegal activities.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL, stressing that the service would continue intelligence-driven operations targeting the infrastructure, logistics and supply chains supporting crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy remains committed to protecting the country’s maritime domain and critical oil and gas assets in support of national economic security.
