Navy Destroys Four Illegal Refineries, Seizes 43,000 Litres of Petroleum Products

The successful operation, carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, took place in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area following credible intelligence on the activities of illegal refiners.

According to a statement issued by Navy Captain Abiodun Ayorinde Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER discovered four illegal refining sites during the operation.

The naval team recovered approximately 28,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, and 15,000 litres of suspected Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). The products were concealed in dugout pits, reservoirs and sacks at the illegal facilities.

The statement said the refining infrastructure was dismantled, while the recovered petroleum products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.

The Navy noted that the latest operation represents another significant blow to criminal syndicates operating in the area, where illegal refining camps have repeatedly resurfaced despite sustained enforcement efforts.

It observed that the recurring reactivation of the illegal sites highlights the determination of crude oil theft networks to continue their illicit activities, but stressed that the Navy remains equally committed to denying them operational freedom.

According to the statement, the sustained offensive against reactivated refining camps has continued to weaken the operational capability of oil theft syndicates, disrupt illegal petroleum production and protect the nation's critical oil and gas infrastructure from economic sabotage.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, aimed at dismantling criminal networks, denying economic saboteurs freedom of action and safeguarding Nigeria's maritime environment and economic interests.