The ongoing war against theft of crude oil mounted by the Nigerian Navy under Operation DELTA SENTINEL yielded a major operational breakthrough on Thursday with the discovery of a massive stockpile of illegally refined petroleum products in Rivers State.
It also led to the discovery by troops that some earlier deactivated illegal refining sites are being reactivated.
Nigerian Navy spokesperson Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said in a statement that acting on credible intelligence, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH conducted a targeted anti-crude oil theft operation around the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, a known hotspot for illegal refining activities.
Supported by aerial surveillance, the operation led to the discovery of an illegal refining site containing approximately 30,000 litres of suspected illegally sourced crude oil and 138,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The products were found stored in reservoirs, refining facilities, and over 1,200 sacks strategically concealed across the area for onward distribution.
Preliminary findings indicated that the site had been reactivated by criminal elements despite previous enforcement actions, underscoring the persistent efforts of oil theft syndicates to regenerate illegal refining infrastructure within the Niger Delta.
The operation resulted in the deactivation of the illegal refining site and the disruption of a significant fuel distribution network linked to economic sabotage in the region. All products and associated facilities were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures.
The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, denying economic saboteurs freedom of action, and protecting Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure and economic interests.