Navy Destroys Reactivated illegal Refinery Site in Rivers State, Intercept Stolen Petroleum Products in Calabar

The Nigerian Navy said it's personnel under Operation Delta Sentinel on Saturday 14 March 2026, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site in Okolomade Community, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Naval operatives also intercepted stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) area in Calabar, Cross River State. 

Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho made this known on Sunday saying that in Rivers State, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh, a task unit under Operation Delta Sentinel, acted on credible intelligence indicating that a previously deactivated illegal refining site had been reactivated. 

"Consequently, NNS Soroh deployed an Anti-Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team to the location, which discovered that the previously dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed. 

"Further exploitation of the area also led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)

'The illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes, and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining activities, was subsequently destroyed in accordance with extant operational procedures. 

'In another major operational success, Acting on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of products from vessels berthed at the port, operation Delta Sentinel personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory swiftly deployed to the area and traced the products to a trailer park within the port facility. 

"On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured._

"Further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) stored in drums and jerry cans. 

"The recovered products have since been evacuated to the Base for further necessary action in accordance with extant regulations

"The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in sustaining the operational tempo of Operation Delta Sentinel through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain._

The Nigerian Navy reiterates that this success aligns with the recent directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering across the nation’s maritime domain.

The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining the momentum of Operation Delta Sentinel through intelligence-led operations aimed at dismantling illegal refining networks and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.