Navy Takes Down Unauthorized Oil Facility in Rivers, Retrieves Purloined Petroleum

The Nigerian Navy has successfully dismantled an illicit refinery operation in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, seizing over 20,000 litres of crude oil suspected to have been stolen.

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This development was disclosed by Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, the acting director of naval information, in a statement released on Friday in Abuja.

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The operation, which was conducted under the auspices of Operation Delta Sentinel, was carried out by personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, Eastern Naval Command, following receipt of credible intelligence regarding illicit refining activities in the Allison Community, Bonny.

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An anti-crude oil theft patrol team was subsequently deployed to the area, resulting in the discovery of an active illicit refining site, which was found to contain dugout pits and locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks filled with substances suspected to be stolen crude oil.

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A thorough assessment of the site revealed that it was storing over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, which was a significant seizure in the ongoing efforts to combat oil theft.

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The illicit refining infrastructure was dismantled in accordance with standard operating procedures, while the perpetrators fled the scene upon sighting the approaching naval team, according to Navy Capt. Folorunsho.

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The success of this operation highlights the Nigerian Navy's continued commitment to curbing crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region.

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Furthermore, the operation was conducted in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical oil infrastructure.

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The Nigerian Navy's efforts are also geared towards supporting the federal government's goal of achieving a daily oil production target of 2.5 million barrels.