The Nigerian Navy has sustained its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, disrupting three illegal refining sites and recovering approximately 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected oil thieves and illegal refiners.
According to an official statement signed by the Director Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation led to the discovery of three illegal refining sites containing eight dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs laden with the suspected illegally refined AGO.
The Navy said the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft and illegal refining activities.
The latest operation came barely two weeks after NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two illegal refining sites in the same general area on August 3, 2026.
The repeated disruption, according to the Navy, reflects sustained efforts to prevent criminal elements from re-establishing operational footholds and rebuilding illegal refining infrastructure in the area.
The Navy also reported a decline in the reactivation of illegal refining sites in the area, attributing the development to the continued operational pressure being mounted on crude oil theft and illegal refining networks.
It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect critical national assets, disrupt illegal petroleum supply chains and support the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the oil and gas sector.
The Navy said the operations were also aimed at safeguarding national economic interests by degrading networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.
