The Nigerian Navy has uncovered nine illegal refining sites containing 23 dugout pits in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The discovery was disclosed in an operational report issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho.
Folorunsho said the operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
According to him, the operation led to the discovery of nine illegal refining sites comprising 23 dugout pits, 18 of which contained an estimated 104,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
He added that five newly excavated pits prepared for illegal refining activities were also discovered and neutralised before they could become operational.
“With this development, the navy has prevented the expansion of illegal refining networks in the area.
“The operation dealt another major setback to crude oil theft syndicates and further reinforced the service’s resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
“Following actionable intelligence, personnel targeted criminal infrastructure concealed within the Wakama/Bolo and Aworkiri communities.
“The operation denied economic saboteurs the opportunity to activate new refining locations and sustain illicit petroleum production,” he said.
Folorunsho further disclosed that operatives recovered eight locally fabricated refining pots and three large storage tanks, significantly disrupting the illegal refining network’s operations.
He said all illegal facilities and recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures.
“The latest success highlights the Nigerian Navy’s determination not only to disrupt illegal refining activities but also to prevent criminal networks from rebuilding their infrastructure.
“By targeting both active and emerging illegal refining hubs, the service continues to weaken the operational resilience of crude oil theft syndicates while protecting Nigeria’s economic interests,” he said.
The naval spokesman reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting strategic national assets and preserving the integrity of the nation’s oil and gas sector.
