By Miriam Humbe
The Nigerian Navy has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta, frustrating renewed attempts by economic saboteurs to re-establish illegal refining operations in Rivers State.
Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the
Director Naval Information, Nigerian Navy disclosed this in a statement signed on Sunday.
Acting on credible intelligence, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS)
PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL conducted a targeted anticrude oil theft operation around the Oseokishikpa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the operation, naval personnel uncovered 2 illegal refining sites
comprising 8 dugout pits and reservoirs containing approximately 15,000 litres
of suspected stolen crude oil and 105,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The discovery is particularly significant as it highlights ongoing attempts by
criminal elements to reactivate illegal refining infrastructure previously
dismantled by security forces within the same area.
The operation therefore not only disrupted illicit activities but also prevented the re-establishment of a
refining network capable of sustaining crude oil theft and environmental
degradation.
Consequently, the illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in
accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying economic
saboteurs access to resources intended to support their criminal enterprise.
The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven
operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle crude oil theft
networks, protect critical national infrastructure, and safeguard Nigeria’s
economic interests in the Niger Delta.
