Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder have dismantled five illegal oil refining sites during a recent operation in the Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The sites, believed to be used for large-scale oil bunkering, were discovered with 62 refining ovens, 21 reservoirs, and 55 dugout pits.
According to the Navy, the facilities contained an estimated 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 83,000 litres of illegally refined diesel (Automotive Gas Oil), and 200,000 litres of illicitly processed kerosene.
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, confirmed the operation in a statement he signed.
Aniaku explained that the raid, conducted on June 14, 2025, was carried out by the ship’s Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team.
According to him, the team acted on credible intelligence, deploying personnel and assets to the area, where they uncovered a newly activated illegal refining camp within the local government.
He said the recovered products were handled in accordance with the Navy’s standard procedures for addressing oil theft.
However, Aniaku noted that no suspects were apprehended, as the operators fled the scene upon sighting the naval patrol.
Commodore Aniaku reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining.
He emphasised that, under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Navy remains resolutely focused on tackling threats to Nigeria’s economy and energy infrastructure.