By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Nigerian Navy says it has sustained operational pressure against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities with the dismantling of a reactivated illegal refining clusters within the Rivers-Bayelsa border corridor.
The operation, according to a statement by the Director of Naval Information Nigerian Navy, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, on Monday, was conducted by personnel of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following intelligence reports indicating renewed illegal refining activities around Egboama/Ogbogolo community in Ahoada West local government area of Rivers State.
According to the statement, the operation involved a coordinated land and water insertion supported by aerial surveillance aimed at locating concealed refining infrastructure within the creek environment.
“Drone reconnaissance conducted over the area exposed multiple illegal refining locations concealed within the terrain. Subsequent exploitation of the sites led to the discovery of refining ovens, a dugout pit, storage facilities and equipment associated with the processing and movement of illegally refined petroleum products,” the statement read.
The Navy said during the operation, its personnel recovered approximately 5,500 littres of products suspected to be crude oil and 3,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO).
“Additional equipment recovered from the sites included generators, welding equipment and materials believed to support the expansion and reactivation of illegal refining camps.
“The operation revealed clear attempts by criminal networks to rebuild refining infrastructure previously disrupted during earlier anti-crude oil theft operations within the area,” the statement further read.
It stated that all identified sites and equipment were subsequently deactivated and handled in accordance with operational procedures, while surveillance and follow-up monitoring of adjourning creek corridor remains ongoing.
The Nigerian Navy noted that current operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL are increasingly focused on preventing the regeneration of illegal refining camps and dismantling the support infrastructure enabling crude oil theft networks to resume operations after previous disruptions.
“The Service remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical national assets, safeguarding the maritime environment and denying economic saboteurs operational freedom within the Niger Delta,” the statement read.
