The Nigerian Navy has frustrated attempts by criminal elements to revive illegal refining activities in Rivers State, with personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship PATHFINDER disrupting three illegal refining sites and recovering approximately 103,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
He said the operation was conducted on August 22, 2026, around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, following credible intelligence.
According to him, the operation uncovered 12 dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs containing the suspected illegally refined products, alongside two pumping machines.
The intervention comes barely a week after NNS PATHFINDER disrupted two illegal refining sites within the same general area on August 15, 2026.
Captain Folorunsho noted that the successive interventions have constrained efforts to rebuild illegal refining infrastructure, with a noticeable decline in the reactivation of such sites.
He stated that the illegal refining sites, recovered products and associated equipment were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrest was made as the operators had fled before the arrival of the naval troops.
“The latest success demonstrates the impact of sustained naval pressure on the infrastructure that enables illegal refining and crude oil theft, thereby denying criminal elements the capacity to restore their illicit operations,” he said.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment 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.