By Gloria Attah
The Nigerian Navy has thwarted a fresh attempt by crude oil thieves to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, deactivating four illegal refining sites and recovering about 77,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
The operation was carried out on May 31 by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation Delta Sentinel following intelligence reports of renewed illegal refining activities around the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Naval Information, Captain A.A. Folorunsho, the operation was launched after intelligence indicated that criminal elements were attempting to reactivate refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security forces.
The anti-crude oil theft team, supported by aerial surveillance and riverine mobility assets, conducted a coordinated operation in the difficult creek terrain. Drone reconnaissance subsequently identified multiple concealed refining locations within the area.
During the operation, troops discovered four illegal refining sites comprising refining ovens, dugout pits and storage facilities containing an estimated 77,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
The Navy said investigations revealed that the operators had been rebuilding refining infrastructure destroyed during earlier enforcement operations.
The operation led to the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, including three refining ovens, two dugout pits and a reservoir used to support illicit refining activities.
“The latest discovery underscores the persistence of crude oil theft syndicates in attempting to regenerate illicit operations despite repeated enforcement actions,” the statement said.
The Navy added that all identified sites and products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying criminal elements access to resources used for economic sabotage.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling illegal refining networks, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests across the Niger Delta.
