The Nigerian Navy has deactivated an illegal refining site in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Acting Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho.
Folorunsho said the operation was conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel of the Forward Operating Base, Bonny, under the Eastern Naval Command, following credible intelligence on illegal refining activities in Allison Community.
According to him, an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was deployed to the area, leading to the discovery of an active illegal refining site equipped with dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, and sacks containing substances suspected to be stolen crude oil.
“Further assessment revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored at the facility. The illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled in line with established operational procedures, while the perpetrators fled on sighting the naval team,” he said.
Folorunsho noted that the operation highlights the Navy’s sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
He added that the crackdown aligns with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical oil infrastructure and supporting the Federal Government’s target of achieving 2.5 million barrels per day in oil production.
