The Nigerian Navy has dismantled three illegal refining sites in Rivers State and recovered approximately 91,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil as part of its ongoing crackdown on crude oil theft.

The operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following intelligence on the reactivation of illegal refining activities in the Okolomade and Ogbogolo areas of Rivers State.

According to the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation uncovered two cooking drums, two large ovens, 10 reservoirs and four storage facilities linked to the illegal refining activities.

The Navy also discovered two makeshift camps suspected to have provided shelter for illegal refiners.

In addition to the suspected stolen crude, about 70 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered during the operation.

Folorunsho said the illegal refining sites, recovered products and associated materials were handled in accordance with established operational procedures.

He said the operation had effectively disrupted the reactivated facilities and denied those behind the activities access to infrastructure needed to resume illegal refining.

The Navy said the latest operation demonstrates its continued effort to prevent criminal networks from rebuilding illegal refining infrastructure in areas previously affected by crude oil theft.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas assets and disrupting the networks supporting crude oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.