Navy Destroys Illegal Refinery in Rivers, Intercepts Suspected Stolen Petroleum Products in Calabar
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its operations against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, the operation was carried out following credible intelligence indicating that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
He explained that an Anti–Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team deployed to the area discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for the illicit activity, were destroyed in line with operational procedures.
In a separate operation, he said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) area in Calabar, Cross River State.
The interception, according to him, followed credible intelligence regarding the suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
Folorunsho said the naval patrol team swiftly deployed to the location and traced the siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
He added that further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which were later evacuated to the naval base for further action in line with existing regulations.
Folorunsho noted that the operations were in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify efforts against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through enhanced surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.
