The Nigerian Navy has recorded another major breakthrough in its sustained campaign against crude oil theft, dismantling two illegal refining sites and recovering about 85,300 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil in Rivers State under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was conducted in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State, where naval personnel uncovered illegal refining infrastructure linked to ongoing crude oil theft activities.
The operation led to the deactivation of two illegal refining sites, while the suspected stolen crude oil was discovered concealed in dugout pits and reservoirs used by operators of the illicit facilities.
The latest success comes only days after the Navy dismantled similar illegal refining infrastructure within the same general area, underscoring what it described as persistent attempts by economic saboteurs to reactivate illegal refining operations despite sustained security operations.
The Navy said the repeated discoveries reflect the impact of its continuous operational presence in identified hotspots across the Niger Delta, making it increasingly difficult for criminal syndicates to establish and sustain illegal refining networks.
It noted that the sustained offensive under Operation DELTA SENTINEL is not only disrupting crude oil theft but also strengthening the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure, while safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.
The Service reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying operations against crude oil thieves and illegal refiners, stressing that it would continue to dismantle illicit refining networks and protect the nation’s maritime and energy assets through sustained enforcement efforts.
