THE Nigerian Navy has recorded another significant operational gain in its ongoing efforts against crude oil theft and illegal refining, with the discovery of three suspected illegal refining sites, six reservoirs and approximately 99,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
News Point Nigeria reports that the products were recovered across the Nigerian Navy’s operational areas in Rivers and Delta States.
In a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, on Wednesday, the Navy said the discoveries were made in separate operations conducted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH and NNS DELTA on August 31, 2026, following credible intelligence on suspected illegal petroleum activities.
The operations also uncovered illegal refining infrastructure, including a large refining oven, storage facilities and dugout reservoirs containing suspected stolen crude oil.
Folorunsho noted that the combined discoveries represented a substantial disruption to illicit petroleum activities, particularly the storage and processing infrastructure required to sustain the illegal trade.
He said the identified sites, facilities and recovered products were appropriately handled in accordance with established procedures.
“The latest successes demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s ability to maintain pressure across multiple operational areas while denying criminal networks the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and illegal refining activities,” he said.
The latest operation adds to the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal refining networks and disrupt the infrastructure supporting crude oil theft and other illicit petroleum activities across the country.
