The Nigerian Navy has frustrated renewed attempts by economic saboteurs to re-establish illegal refining operations in Rivers State.

This is contained in an operational report issued by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr Folorunsho, the operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel.

“Acting on credible intelligence, Navy personnel conducted a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State,” he said.

He revealed that during the operation, naval personnel uncovered two illegal refining sites comprising eight dugout pits and reservoirs containing approximately 15,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The naval spokesperson said the discovery was particularly significant as it highlighted ongoing attempts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security forces within the same area.

“The operation, therefore, not only disrupted illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a refining network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and environmental degradation,” he said.

He also said the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support their criminal enterprise.

He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft networks, protect critical national infrastructure, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests in the Niger Delta. 

(NAN)