Operating on reliable security intelligence, the Nigerian Navy intercepted approximately 117,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled three illicit refining operations in Rivers State during a sweep conducted earlier this month.
The enforcement action, executed by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Bonny, targeted the Awokiri community situated within the Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area on November 5, 2026. Naval authorities formally announced the breakthrough through a press release issued on Saturday by the Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.
What were the specific findings at the illegal sites?
According to the official communication, the military team uncovered a network of 16 dugout pits during the raid. Out of these, nine pits held an estimated 115,000 litres of illicitly acquired crude petroleum, while an additional storage container held 2,000 litres, culminating in the 117,000-litre total.
Furthermore, investigators observed that four of the remaining pits contained only water, and three others appeared freshly dug, indicating active expansion of the illegal bunkering network.
How is the Navy addressing maritime economic sabotage?
Captain Folorunsho stated that all identified facilities, storage pits, and recovered petroleum products were managed in strict adherence to current operational protocols and legal guidelines.
He emphasized that the operation formed a core component of the Navy's broader strategic campaign to suppress crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the nation's waterways through proactive, intelligence-driven deployments.
By dismantling these unauthorized refining installations, the military aims to severely obstruct the operational capacity of economic saboteurs while safeguarding critical national oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.