Nigerian navy disrupts two illegal refining sites

The Nigerian Navy says it recovered about 53,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and suspected illegally refined diesel during a raid on two illegal refining sites in Okarki, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said in a statement that personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER carried out the operation on Wednesday, November 11, under Operation Delta Sentinel. He said the raid followed intelligence on illegal petroleum activities in the area.

According to Folorunsho, the naval team found about eight dugout pits and storage containers at the two sites, with an estimated 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of suspected illegally refined diesel. He said the team handled the sites and the recovered products in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft. The Navy said it made no arrests because the suspected operators had fled before the team arrived.

Folorunsho said NNS PATHFINDER had discovered and deactivated three illegal refining sites in the same area on October 10. He added that the Navy would continue intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining sites, protect oil and gas infrastructure and support crude oil production.