Navy Uncovers 53,000 Litres of Stolen Petroleum Products, Deactivates Two Illegal Refineries in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy has recorded another operational success in its fight against crude oil theft and illegal petroleum refining, recovering 53,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products and deactivating two illegal refining sites in Rivers State.
The operation took place at Okarki Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area, on November 11, 2026, when personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER acted on credible intelligence under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
During the operation, the naval team discovered two illegal refining locations containing approximately eight dugout pits and storage containers.
The facilities were found to hold an estimated 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), bringing the total volume of recovered petroleum products to approximately 53,000 litres.
The Navy disclosed that the sites and products were handled in accordance with established procedures for combating crude oil theft. No suspects were arrested because the operators reportedly escaped before the naval personnel arrived.
The latest breakthrough comes barely a month after NNS PATHFINDER uncovered and deactivated three illegal refining sites in the same general area during an operation on October 10, 2026.
The successive operations highlight the Nigerian Navy’s intensified efforts to dismantle illegal refining facilities and disrupt the networks responsible for stealing and illegally processing the nation’s crude oil.
The Service reiterated its resolve to sustain intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, particularly in protecting critical oil and gas facilities, boosting national crude oil production and preventing further losses to the Nigerian economy.
