By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt to reactivate an illegal refining site in Rivers State, recovering about 350 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The operation was carried out by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH on September 6, 2026, following credible intelligence on the planned revival of illegal refining activities in the Okolomade general area of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the suspected operators fled upon sighting the naval team, abandoning the illegally refined AGO and two wheelbarrows believed to have been used to transport the product.
In a related operation, the naval base revisited a previously disrupted illegal refining site in the Ogbogolo area and destroyed the remaining metallic ovens, storage tanks and other associated infrastructure.
The Navy said the action was aimed at preventing criminal operators from reactivating the facility.
It added that the interventions marked a shift from merely disrupting illegal refining activities to dismantling the infrastructure that enables operators to repeatedly revive their operations.
The Navy said the approach would help weaken the resilience of illicit petroleum networks in the area.
