The Nigerian Navy has deactivated three illegal refining sites comprising six refining ovens, three reservoirs, and four dugout pits, containing 38,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 167,180 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), bringing the total volume of recovered products to 205,680 litres.

The products were uncovered by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh in a targeted operation within the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area.

Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho said in a statement that the scale of the discovery underscored the sophistication of criminal networks engaged in crude oil theft and illegal refining within the Niger Delta.

“By dismantling the refining infrastructure before it could sustain further illicit production, the operation dealt a significant setback to criminal enterprises responsible for economic sabotage, environmental degradation, and the loss of national revenue,” he said.

Folorunsho said the successful operation reinforces the Nigerian Navy’s determination to sustain the operational momentum of Operation Delta Sentinel, targeting infrastructure, logistics, and supply chains that underpin crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.

He said the Navy remains resolute in protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and critical oil and gas assets through sustained intelligence-driven operations in support of national economic security.

“The illegal refining sites and all recovered products were handled in accordance with extant anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying economic saboteurs access to critical infrastructure and products intended to sustain their criminal activities.”