The Nigerian Navy has dismantled a reconstructed illegal refining site operating along the Rivers-Bayelsa border, recovering about 8,500 litres of suspected petroleum products during the operation.
The Navy disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho.
According to the statement, the operation was conducted by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under Operation DELTA SENTINEL following intelligence reports on renewed illegal refining activities around the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Folorunsho said the operation involved a coordinated deployment through both land and water routes, supported by aerial surveillance to identify and access concealed refining camps located within the creeks.
During the raid, naval personnel recovered approximately 5,500 litres of suspected crude oil and about 3,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.
The Navy also recovered equipment allegedly used in rebuilding and expanding the illegal refining facilities, including generators, welding machines and other operational tools.
According to the naval spokesman, preliminary findings indicated that operators of the site were attempting to restore refining infrastructure previously destroyed during earlier security operations in the region.
He added that all identified refining locations and related equipment were subsequently deactivated in line with operational procedures, while surveillance activities across adjoining creek channels remain ongoing.
Folorunsho said the continued operations form part of broader efforts to prevent the return of illegal refining camps and dismantle networks linked to crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
He reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to intelligence-led operations aimed at safeguarding critical oil infrastructure, securing Nigeria’s maritime environment and restricting the activities of economic saboteurs operating within the region.