Navy Destroys Illegal Refining Site, Recovers Equipment in Delta

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta has destroyed a site used for illegal oil refining in Obotebe Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, disclosed this during a briefing with journalists in Warri on Saturday.

He said the site was uncovered by Navy personnel on Thursday and dismantled as part of Operation Delta Sanity II — a sustained crackdown on crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“In line with the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, we deployed 14 personnel aboard gunboats and speedboats to Obotebe on June 19,” Zubairu said.

He noted that the team discovered the illegal dump site and promptly destroyed it to prevent further environmental and economic sabotage.

Items recovered from the site include one 1.5HP Yamaha outboard engine, a power generating set, six pumping machines, and two rolls of industrial hose.

The Navy reiterated its commitment to eradicating illegal refining activities and protecting critical oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.