The Nigerian Navy has dismantled three illegal refining sites containing eight dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs holding about 85,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State. The sites were uncovered by personnel of NNS Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.

Naval spokesman, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, said the illegal refining facilities and recovered products were handled in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft. He noted that the operation came less than two weeks after troops disrupted two illegal refining sites in the same general area on Aug. 3, 2026.

Folorunsho said the repeated raids showed the Navy’s sustained efforts to prevent criminal groups from rebuilding illegal refining infrastructure in the area. He added that continued operational pressure had contributed to a decline in the reactivation of such sites, weakening crude oil theft and illegal refining networks.

The Navy spokesman said Operation Delta Sentinel would continue to protect critical national assets, disrupt illegal petroleum supply chains and support the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the oil and gas sector and protect Nigeria’s economic interests.