Navy dismantles illegal refinery, seizes 20,000ltrs stolen crude in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has deactivated an illegal refinery in Bonny LGA of Rivers State,  recovering over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

According to Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, acting director of naval information, the operation was conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, Eastern naval command.

“The operation followed credible intelligence on illegal refining activities in Allison Community, Bonny. Our anti-crude oil theft patrol team discovered an active refining site containing dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, and sacks filled with suspected stolen crude oil,” Folorunsho said.

He added, “further assessment revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored at the facility. The illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled in line with established operational procedures, while the perpetrators fled on sighting the naval team.”

The Navy highlighted that the operation demonstrates its ongoing commitment to combating crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, aligning with directives from Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, the chief of the Naval Staff to intensify intelligence-driven operations to protect critical oil infrastructure.

Folorunsho also noted that such efforts support the federal government’s goal of achieving a daily oil production target of 2.5 million barrels.