Nigerian Navy Destroys Reactivated Illegal Refinery Site in Rivers

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Nigerian Navy, in response to a directive from the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes, has destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site in Okolomade Community, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Captain A.A. Folorunsho, the operation was carried out on Saturday, 14 March 2026, by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh, a task unit under Operation Delta Sentinel, following credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had been reactivated.

The Navy said an Anti-Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the earlier
dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed. Further searches in the area also uncovered additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly installed metal components used for the illicit activity, was subsequently destroyed in line with operational procedures.

The Navy says it will continue to intensify intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to dismantle illegal refining networks and protect Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.