KEY POINTS
- Nigerian Navy dismantled an illegal refining site in Bonny, Rivers State, recovering over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
- The raid followed intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel, with suspects fleeing on sighting naval patrol.
- Navy says crackdown supports efforts to curb oil theft and boost Nigeria’s oil production target for 2026.
The Nigerian Navy has uncovered and dismantled an active illegal refining site in Allison Community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
The operation, conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel, was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny in the Eastern Naval Command.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed that the success followed credible intelligence reports on illegal refining activities in the area. Acting on the information, the naval base deployed an Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team to locate and neutralise the illegal facility.
Folorunsho said the team discovered dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, and sacks containing substances suspected to be stolen crude oil at the site. Further assessment revealed that the facility contained over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude.
The Suspects Operating the Illegal Refinery Fled the Scene Upon Sighting the Naval Team
He noted that the suspects operating the illegal refinery fled the scene upon sighting the naval patrol team. The illegal refining infrastructure and recovered products were subsequently handled in line with established operational procedures.
The Navy described the raid as part of its sustained offensive against crude oil theft, illegal refining, and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
According to the service, the operation aligns with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who has instructed operational commanders to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical oil infrastructure.
The Navy added that the intensified operations also support the Federal Government’s target of achieving 2.5 million barrels of oil production per day by 2026.
It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on oil thieves and criminal networks undermining Nigeria’s economic stability, stressing that Operation Delta Sentinel will continue across the maritime domain and the wider Niger Delta region.
