By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The Nigerian Navy on Saturday, March 14, 2026, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery in Okolomade Community, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, and intercepted 3,950 litres of stolen fuel at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar. The operations formed part of Operation Delta Sentinel, targeting crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Navy Destroys Reactivated Illegal Refinery in Rivers
According to Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, naval personnel uncovered the illegal facility after acting on credible intelligence.
The intelligence revealed that a previously dismantled refining site had resumed operations in Okolomade Community.
Consequently, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship Soroh, a task unit under Operation Delta Sentinel, deployed an Anti-Crude Oil Theft (Anti-COT) team to the location.
Folorunsho explained that the team discovered a reconstructed refining oven at the site.
“Further exploitation of the area revealed additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Moreover, the naval team destroyed the illegal refining infrastructure according to operational procedures.
The destroyed items included:
- Refining ovens
- Storage tanks
- Hoses and connected pipes
- Newly installed metal refining components
Navy Intercepts Stolen Petroleum Products in Calabar
In a related operation, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship Victory intercepted stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority facility in Calabar.
The operation followed intelligence about suspected fuel siphoning from vessels berthed at the port.
Naval operatives quickly deployed to the area and traced the stolen products to a trailer park within the port facility.
However, the suspected perpetrators fled when they sighted the naval patrol team.
Subsequently, naval personnel cordoned off the location and recovered about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerry cans.
Navy Intensifies War Against Crude Oil Theft
Folorunsho reiterated that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining the momentum of Operation Delta Sentinel.
According to him, the service will intensify surveillance, maritime patrols and intelligence-driven operations across Nigeria’s waterways.
He added that the operations align with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, to strengthen efforts against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering nationwide.
Furthermore, the navy vowed to continue targeting individuals and networks involved in economic sabotage in the maritime sector.
