The Nigerian Navy has disrupted attempts to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, recovering approximately 103,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was carried out on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected illegal refiners around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.
According to the Navy, three illegal refining sites were discovered and dismantled during the operation.
The troops recovered about 103,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO stored in sacks and reservoirs at the sites.
They also uncovered 12 dugout pits and two pumping machines believed to have been used in the illegal refining process.
The latest operation comes barely a week after personnel of NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two other illegal refining sites within the same general area on August 15.
The Navy said the successive operations have helped to frustrate attempts by criminal elements to rebuild and reactivate illegal refining infrastructure in the area.
It added that sustained pressure on the sites has resulted in a noticeable decline in the reactivation of illegal refining facilities.
No arrests were made during the latest operation, as the suspected operators reportedly fled before the arrival of the naval personnel.
The Navy said the illegal refining sites, recovered products and associated equipment were handled in accordance with established procedures for combating crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.
The latest intervention forms part of the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, aimed at protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas assets, disrupting crude oil theft and illegal refining, and creating a secure environment for legitimate oil and gas production.
The Navy said it remains committed to sustaining operations against criminal activities in the nation’s oil-producing areas and denying criminal elements access to infrastructure used to support illegal refining and crude oil theft.
