Friday, March 27, 2026 - 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 is contained in a statement by the Acting Director of
Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, on Friday in Abuja
Folorunsho said the operation was carried out under
Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel of the Forward Operating Base, FOB,
Bonny, Eastern Naval Command.
He said the operation followed credible intelligence on
illegal refining activities in Allison Community, Bonny
Folorunsho said an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was
deployed to the area, leading to the discovery of an active illegal refining
site.
He said the site contained dugout pits, locally fabricated
cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks filled with 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 said the success underscored the Nigerian Navy’s
sustained efforts to curb crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger
Delta.
He added that the operation aligned with the directive of
the Chief of the Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify
intelligence-driven operations to safeguard critical oil infrastructure.
He noted that such efforts were also geared towards
supporting the Federal Government’s target of achieving 2.5 million barrels per
day oil production.
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