The Nigerian Navy has shut down an illegal refinery in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in the process.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Acting Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho.
Folorunsho explained that the operation was conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel by personnel of the Forward Operating Base Bonny, Eastern Naval Command.
According to him, the mission was launched following credible intelligence reports indicating ongoing illegal refining activities in Allison Community, Bonny.
He noted that an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was subsequently deployed to the location, where operatives uncovered an active illegal refining site.
Folorunsho said the facility featured dugout pits, locally made cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks containing substances believed to be stolen crude oil.
“Further assessment revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored at the facility.
“The illegal refining infrastructure was dismantled in line with established operational procedures, while the perpetrators fled on sighting the naval team,” he said.
He added that the operation highlights the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing commitment to tackling crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
Folorunsho also stated that the effort is in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to ramp up intelligence-led operations aimed at protecting critical oil infrastructure.
He further noted that the initiative supports the Federal Government’s goal of reaching a daily oil production target of 2.5 million barrels.
