By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling four illegal refining sites and recovering about 77,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
The operation, carried out was conducted by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under the ongoing Operation Delta Sentinel, according to a statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
Folorunsho said the operation followed credible intelligence indicating renewed illegal refining activities around the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Acting on the intelligence, a specialised anti-crude oil theft team launched a coordinated operation supported by aerial surveillance and riverine mobility assets to navigate the difficult creek terrain. Drone reconnaissance reportedly identified multiple concealed illegal refining locations within the area.
During the raid, naval personnel uncovered four illegal refining sites equipped with refining ovens, dugout pits and storage facilities containing an estimated 77,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
According to the Navy, investigations revealed that criminal elements had been making efforts to rebuild refining infrastructure that had previously been destroyed during earlier enforcement operations.
The operation resulted in the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, including three refining ovens, two dugout pits and a reservoir used in the processing and storage of illegally refined petroleum products.
The Navy noted that the discovery underscores the persistence of crude oil theft syndicates despite sustained enforcement efforts, while also demonstrating the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel.
“All identified sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, thereby denying criminal elements access to resources used to perpetrate economic sabotage,” the statement said.
The service reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling illegal refining infrastructure, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests across the Niger Delta region.
Crude oil theft and illegal refining remain major challenges in the oil-rich Niger Delta, contributing to environmental degradation, revenue losses and threats to national energy security. The Nigerian Navy has continued to intensify surveillance and enforcement measures to curb the activities of oil theft syndicates and protect the country's economic resources.
