By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a reactivated illegal refining cluster along the Rivers, Bayelsa border corridor in a renewed crackdown against crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
The operation, conducted under Operation DELTA SENTINEL by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Nigerian Navy, followed intelligence reports indicating renewed illegal refining activities around Egboama/Ogbogolo Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operation involved coordinated land and water assaults supported by aerial surveillance to identify and destroy concealed refining infrastructure within the creek environment.
According to the Navy, drone reconnaissance uncovered several illegal refining sites hidden within the difficult terrain, leading to the discovery of refining ovens, dugout pits, storage facilities and equipment used for processing and transporting illegally refined petroleum products.
Folorunsho disclosed that naval operatives recovered approximately 5,500 litres of substances suspected to be crude oil and 3,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during the raid.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of generators, welding machines and other materials allegedly used to expand and reactivate the illegal refining camps.
The Navy said preliminary findings revealed deliberate attempts by criminal networks to rebuild refining infrastructure previously destroyed during earlier anti-crude oil theft operations in the area.
“All identified sites and equipment were subsequently deactivated and handled in accordance with operational procedures, while surveillance and follow-on monitoring of adjoining creek corridors remain ongoing,” the statement noted.
The Navy further stated that ongoing operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL are now focused on preventing the resurgence of illegal refining camps and dismantling support structures aiding crude oil theft syndicates across the Niger Delta.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding national assets, the service said it would continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting the maritime environment and denying economic saboteurs freedom of operation in the region.
