The Nigerian Navy has uncovered two illegal refining sites and recovered approximately 58,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
The operation was carried out on October 3, 2026, by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL at Okarki Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
The Navy said the operation followed credible intelligence on suspected crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the area.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the sites contained nine dugout pits, storage containers and sacks filled with the suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.
He said the operation disrupted the activities of criminal operators and denied them access to facilities used to store and process stolen petroleum resources.
The recovered products and the two illegal refining sites were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, the Navy said.
Meanwhile, no arrest was made during the operation as the suspected operators reportedly fled before the arrival of the naval team.
