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Nigerian Navy destroys illegal refinery site in Rivers State during anti–oil theft operation.
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Naval operatives recover 3,000 litres of illegally refined AGO at Abua-Odual Local Government Area.
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Navy intercepts 3,950 litres of suspected stolen fuel at port facility in Calabar.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified operations against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Cross River State.
Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja.
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He explained that personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, dismantled a reactivated illegal refinery at Okolomade Community.
Folorunsho said the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that a previously destroyed illegal refining site had resumed activities.
According to him, an anti–crude oil theft team deployed to the area discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed and was already in use.
Further search of the location uncovered refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He added that the illegal refining infrastructure — including ovens, storage tanks, hoses and connected pipes — was destroyed in accordance with operational procedures.
In a separate operation, naval personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship VICTORY intercepted 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority facility in Calabar.
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Folorunsho said the interception followed intelligence reports about suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
He explained that when the naval patrol team arrived at the scene, the suspected perpetrators fled, abandoning the products.
A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of the fuel stored in drums and jerrycans within a trailer park inside the port facility.
The recovered products were later evacuated to a naval base for further investigation and necessary action.
Folorunsho noted that the successful operations align with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, to intensify efforts against crude oil theft and maritime crimes across Nigeria’s waters.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through enhanced surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating illegal bunkering and other economic sabotage.
