The Nigerian Navy has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, dismantling another cluster of illegal refining sites and recovering about 43,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers State.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER carried out the intelligence-driven operation in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, where they uncovered four illegal refining sites.
The statement disclosed that the operation led to the recovery of approximately 28,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 15,000 litres of suspected Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). The products were concealed in dugout pits, reservoirs and sacks.
It added that the illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled, while the recovered petroleum products were handled in line with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures.
The Navy described the operation as another major setback for criminal elements operating in the area, noting that illegal refining sites had repeatedly been re-established despite previous enforcement actions.
According to the statement, the persistent reactivation of the facilities highlights the determination of crude oil theft syndicates to sustain their illegal activities. It, however, stressed that the Nigerian Navy remains equally committed to denying the criminals the opportunity to regain operational footholds.
The statement further noted that by consistently targeting reactivated refining sites, the Nigerian Navy continues to degrade the operational capability of crude oil theft networks, disrupt illegal petroleum production and protect Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure from economic sabotage.
It reaffirmed that the Service will sustain intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle criminal networks, deny economic saboteurs freedom of action and safeguard the nation’s maritime environment and economic interests.
