By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy has disrupted two illegal refining sites and uncovered approximately 58,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Okarki Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
He said the operation was conducted by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, a unit under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, on 3 October 2026, following credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft and illegal refining activities within its area of operations.
According to him, the sites contained nine dugout pits, storage containers and sacks laden with the suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
“The intervention further denied criminal operators access to facilities used to store and process stolen petroleum resources, disrupting the supply chain supporting illegal refining in the area,” Folorunsho said.
He added that the two illegal refining sites and recovered products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, noting that no arrest was made as the suspected operators fled before the arrival of the naval team.
