Navy recovers 126,000L of petroleum in Rivers, shuts reactivated illegal refining sites.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified efforts to prevent the reactivation of illegal refining sites in Rivers State, recovering more than 126,000 litres of petroleum products during a sustained anti-crude oil theft operation under Operation Delta Sentinel.
The latest operation followed an earlier raid on 10 July 2026, when personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder discovered and deactivated illegal refining sites in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. Despite that operation, crude oil theft syndicates made fresh attempts to restore the dismantled facilities, prompting the Navy to maintain surveillance and sustain follow-up operations across the area.
In a statement, the Director of Naval Information, Nigerian Navy, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said personnel of NNS Pathfinder subsequently rediscovered and deactivated two reactivated illegal refining sites, recovering approximately 76,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and 50,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in seven dugout pits and reservoirs, bringing the total volume of recovered petroleum products to over 126,000 litres.
According to the statement, the operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to deny crude oil thieves the opportunity to regain operational footholds or rebuild illegal refining infrastructure within its area of responsibility. It added that all illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, while sustained operational pressure continues across identified criminal enclaves.
The statement further reaffirmed that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, disrupt crude oil theft networks, protect critical national assets, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic security.
Linus Aleke
