By Desire Uzochukwu
The Nigerian Navy has disrupted two illegal refining sites and recovered approximately 58,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, in Rivers State.
The Navy said the operation, conducted by personnel of NNS Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel, took place on October 3, 2026, at Okarki Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, who disclosed this on Sunday, said the operation followed credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the area.
According to him, naval personnel uncovered two illegal refining sites containing nine dugout pits, storage containers and sacks laden with suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
Folorunsho said the operation had disrupted the activities of criminal operators and denied them access to facilities used for the storage and processing of stolen petroleum resources.
He said: “The sites contained 9 dugout pits, storage containers and sacks laden with the suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
“The intervention further denied criminal operators access to facilities used to store and process stolen petroleum resources, disrupting the supply chain supporting illegal refining in the area.”
The Navy spokesman said the two illegal refining sites and recovered products had been handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
He, however, disclosed that no arrest was made during the operation as the suspected operators fled before the arrival of the naval team.
“No arrest was made, as the suspected operators fled before the arrival of the naval team,” he said.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Navy under Operation Delta Sentinel to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal refining activities within its area of operations.
