By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, uncovering two suspected illegal refining sites containing about 62,050 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted on September 8, 2026, in Ogbogolo community, Ahoada West Local Government Area, also led to the discovery of 31 dugout pits used for storing suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, carried out the anti-crude oil theft operation within the Orashi Forest and the wider Ogbogolo area.
The statement disclosed that the dugout pits contained approximately 58,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 4,050 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The naval team also recovered six sacks and one keg containing additional quantities of suspected illegally refined AGO.
The Navy said the discovered sites were handled in accordance with extant regulations, adding that no arrest was made because the suspects fled upon sighting the naval personnel.
The operation forms part of the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to disrupt illegal refining activities, dismantle facilities used for processing and storing stolen petroleum products, and prevent further losses to the nation’s oil resources.
The Navy noted that Operation DELTA SENTINEL had recorded several successes since its inception, reinforcing its commitment to combating crude oil theft and protecting Nigeria’s economic interests.
The latest operation, it said, underscores ongoing efforts to deny oil thieves and illegal refiners access to the infrastructure sustaining their activities in the Niger Delta.
