The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta, thwarting fresh attempts by suspected economic saboteurs to revive illegal refining operations in Rivers State.
The Navy disclosed that personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, operating under Operation Delta Sentinel, carried out a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation following credible intelligence reports around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the operation, naval personnel uncovered two illegal refining sites comprising eight dugout pits and reservoirs containing approximately 15,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
According to the statement, signed by Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information. The discovery underscores continued efforts by criminal elements to revive illegal refining infrastructure that had previously been dismantled by security agencies in the area.
“The discovery is particularly significant as it highlights ongoing attempts by criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure previously dismantled by security forces within the same area,” the statement said.
Navy Reaffirms Anti-Oil Theft Commitment
The Navy noted that the operation not only disrupted ongoing illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and causing environmental degradation in the region.
It added that the illegal refining sites and the recovered petroleum products were handled in line with existing anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying the perpetrators access to resources intended to support their activities.
“Consequently, the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying economic saboteurs access to resources intended to support their criminal enterprise,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating oil theft, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue to sustain intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, protecting critical national infrastructure, and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests in the Niger Delta.
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