The Nigerian Navy has dismantled newly discovered illegal refining sites and recovered thousands of litres of suspected stolen petroleum products during coordinated operations across parts of Rivers State.
The operations were carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel as part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
Illegal Refinery Sites Discovered in Bonny
According to the Navy, personnel of the Forward Operating Base Bonny acted on credible intelligence to foil attempts by suspected oil thieves to establish illegal refining camps in the Promise Land area of Bonny Local Government Area in Rivers State.
A coordinated reconnaissance operation, supported by aerial surveillance and patrols across surrounding creeks and waterways, led to the discovery of concealed refining infrastructure hidden under dense vegetation.
The Navy said two newly constructed illegal refining sites were identified close to a river channel, with evidence suggesting that operators were still in the early stages of setting up full-scale production.
“The surveillance exposed concealed refining equipment hidden under thick vegetation, while ground assessment confirmed two newly constructed illegal refining sites close to the river channel,” the statement said.
The sites reportedly contained improvised cooking installations, interconnected pipe systems and other makeshift equipment designed for processing and transporting illegally refined petroleum products.
Naval authorities said the facilities were dismantled immediately in line with operational procedures, while the area has been placed under continued surveillance to prevent re-establishment.
3,800 Litres of Suspected AGO Recovered
In a separate operation, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh uncovered a concealed stockpile of illegally refined fuel along the Rivers–Bayelsa border corridor.
The discovery followed intelligence reports of suspicious movement of petroleum products around the Okarki community waterside in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Aerial surveillance reportedly revealed multiple sacks hidden within thick vegetation along creek routes commonly used for illicit oil transport.
Further search operations led to the recovery of about 3,800 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), stored in 38 sacks.
Although no arrests were made, as suspects fled before the arrival of naval personnel, the recovered products were secured according to standard operational procedures.
Navy Intensifies Crackdown on Oil Theft Networks
The Navy noted that the operations highlight the growing use of remote creek environments and concealed storage points by oil theft syndicates to sustain illegal refining activities in the region.
It added that ongoing operations under Operation Delta Sentinel are focused on identifying emerging hotspots, dismantling illegal refining infrastructure, and restricting the movement of criminal networks involved in crude oil theft.
Reaffirming the service’s position, Captain Folorunsho said the Nigerian Navy remains committed to intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical national oil assets and safeguarding the maritime environment from economic sabotage.
