The Nigerian Navy says it has dismantled illegal crude oil refining sites and recovered suspected stolen crude in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni area of Rivers State.

The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Saturday through the Navy’s verified X handle.

According to the statement, the operation was conducted under its flagship maritime security initiative, Operation Delta Sentinel.

The Nigerian Navy said the operation, conducted by the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team, uncovered a tampered wellhead belonging to an oil company.

It added that the wellhead had been illegally linked to a makeshift pipeline used to siphon crude oil into dugout pits for illegal refining.

“Further exploitation of the area led to the dismantling of illegal refining sites and equipment, as well as the recovery of a significant amount of suspected stolen crude oil, illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK),” the statement said.

The Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Mutalib Raji, said the development underscores the operational effectiveness of Operation Delta Sentinel in tackling crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

Raji also reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to sustaining intensified operations and strengthening collaboration with relevant security agencies and stakeholders to protect critical national assets and safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

In late February, the Navy destroyed three illegal refinery sites, five ovens, and 25 dugout pits in the same Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni area of Rivers State.

The operation also uncovered a wellhead that had been illegally tapped to siphon crude into makeshift refining camps, where significant quantities of AGO, PMS, and DPK were recovered.

Oil theft remains one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria’s oil industry, reducing government revenue and making it more difficult for the country to meet its oil production targets.