By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigerian Navy has dismantled two illegal refining sites and recovered 53,000 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products in Okarki Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out on November 11, 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following credible intelligence on illegal petroleum activities in the area.
A statement issued by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operation led to the discovery of about eight dugout pits and storage containers containing approximately 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He said the recovered products and facilities were handled in accordance with established procedures for combating crude oil theft.
According to him, no arrests were made during the operation as the suspected operators fled before the arrival of the naval team.
Folorunsho said the latest operation reinforced the Navy’s sustained efforts to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure and disrupt crude oil theft networks across the Niger Delta.
He recalled that NNS PATHFINDER had conducted a similar operation in the same general area on October 10, 2026, during which three illegal refining sites were discovered and deactivated.
He said the successive operations demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s determination to deny economic saboteurs access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
The naval spokesperson reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, support national crude oil production and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
