By Nkechi Eze
Personnel of the Nigerian Navy have deactivated an illegal refining site and recovered more than 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State as part of ongoing operations under Operation Delta Sentinel.
The discovery was made at Allison Community following a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base Bonny under the Eastern Naval Command.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was launched after credible intelligence reports indicated ongoing illegal refining activities within the area.
He explained that the naval patrol team deployed to the location uncovered an active illegal refining site equipped with dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, and sacks containing large quantities of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Further inspection of the facility revealed more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored at the site. The illegal refining infrastructure and recovered products were subsequently handled in line with established operational procedures.
However, the perpetrators reportedly fled the scene upon sighting the approaching naval patrol team.
Folorunsho noted that the successful operation highlights the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
He added that the intensified operations are in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who has tasked operational commanders to strengthen intelligence-driven missions aimed at protecting Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.
According to him, the Navy remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s economic assets and supporting the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day.
The operation forms part of broader efforts by the Nigerian Navy to curb illegal refining activities and dismantle networks responsible for crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
