Navy destroys illegal refinery in Rivers, seizes stolen fuel in Calabar crackdown

The Nigerian Navy has stepped up its offensive against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, dismantled a reactivated illegal refinery in Rivers State and intercepted thousands of litres of suspected stolen petroleum products in Cross River State.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, said the operations were carried out by naval units under the ongoing anti-crude oil theft mission, Operation DELTA SENTINEL.

The Navy disclosed that personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, acting on credible intelligence, destroyed a reactivated illegal refining site in Okolomade Community, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The site, it said, had previously been dismantled but was discovered to have resumed operations.

According to the statement, an Anti-Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location found that the refining oven had been reconstructed, indicating a deliberate attempt by perpetrators to continue illicit activities.

“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil,” it said.

It added that the Navy destroyed the illegal refining infrastructure in line with operational procedures, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly installed metal components used in the refining process.

In a separate operation, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar.

The Navy explained that the interception followed intelligence reports of ongoing siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port. Naval patrol teams were immediately deployed and traced the products to a trailer park within the port facility.

“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” it said.

A subsequent inspection, it noted, led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans.

“The products have since been evacuated to a naval base for further action in line with existing regulations”, it noted.

The Navy said the operations were in compliance with directives from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, mandating intensified efforts to curb crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.

It reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through enhanced surveillance, sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage across Nigeria’s maritime domain.