Nigerian Navy Deactivates Illegal Refining Site In Bonny, Recovers Over 20,000 Litres Of Stolen Crude Oil

Nigerian Navy Deactivates Illegal Refining Site In Bonny, Recovers Over 20,000 Litres Of Stolen Crude Oil

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another operational success under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, with the discovery and deactivation of an active illegal refining site at Allison Community in the Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State and the recovery of over 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Acting on credible intelligence on illegal activities within the area, personnel of Forward Operating Base BONNY under Eastern Naval Command deployed an Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team, which led to the identification of an illegal refining site comprising dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks containing significant quantities of products suspected to be stolen crude oil. Further assessment of the site revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored within the facility.

The illegal refining infrastructure and products were subsequently handled in accordance with extant operational procedures, while the perpetrators fled the scene upon sighting the naval patrol team. The operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who has charged operational commanders to intensify operations and leverage intelligence in protecting the nation’s critical oil infrastructure and actualisation of the Federal Government’s 2.5 million barrels per day goal by this year.