The Nigerian Navy has disrupted attempts to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, recovering approximately 103,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from three illegal refining sites around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
The operation was carried out on August 22, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER following credible intelligence on renewed illegal refining activities in the area.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the naval operation uncovered 12 dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs containing the suspected illegally refined products, as well as two pumping machines.
The latest operation comes barely a week after NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two illegal refining sites within the same general area on August 15.
The Nigerian Navy said the successive interventions have helped constrain efforts to rebuild illegal refining infrastructure, resulting in “a noticeable decline in the reactivation of such sites.”
Navy Sustains Pressure on Oil Theft Networks
The recovered products, illegal refining sites and associated equipment were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures. However, no arrest was made during the operation as the operators had fled before the arrival of the naval troops.
The Navy said the latest operation demonstrates the impact of sustained pressure on the infrastructure supporting illegal refining and crude oil theft.
According to the statement, the intervention is aimed at denying criminal elements the capacity to restore their illicit operations and protecting legitimate activities within Nigeria’s oil-producing communities.
“The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect Nigeria’s oil and gas assets, disrupt economic sabotage and create a secure environment for legitimate production and investment,” the statement said.
The Navy’s latest operation adds to ongoing efforts to curb illegal refining and crude oil theft, particularly by targeting the infrastructure used to sustain such activities in the Niger Delta.
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