The Nigerian Navy has stepped up its campaign against crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, destroying an illegal refinery site in Rivers State and recovering about 350 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH after receiving credible intelligence that illegal refining activities had resumed in the Okolomade area of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
On arrival at the site, the suspected operators reportedly abandoned the facility and fled after spotting the naval patrol team.
During the raid, the operatives recovered about 350 litres of illegally refined AGO and two wheelbarrows believed to have been used to transport the petroleum products.
The naval personnel also returned to a previously dismantled illegal refining camp in Ogbogolo, where they found that parts of the refining infrastructure had remained intact despite an earlier operation.
To stop the site from becoming operational again, the team destroyed the remaining metallic ovens, storage tanks and other refining equipment, making the facility unusable.
The Navy explained that the follow-up operation was necessary to ensure that criminal elements could not return to the location and restart illegal refining activities using the leftover infrastructure.
The service noted that illegal refining continues to pose a major challenge in the Niger Delta, as dismantled facilities are often rebuilt and reactivated whenever key equipment is left behind.
It added that crude oil theft and illegal refining remain serious threats to Nigeria’s economy, resulting in huge revenue losses while causing widespread environmental pollution that affects nearby communities, farmlands and waterways.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against crude oil theft and illegal refining, stressing that the latest operation was aimed at recovering illicit petroleum products and permanently denying criminals the opportunity to revive illegal refinery sites.
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