Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder have dismantled nine illegal refining sites in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, seizing approximately 175,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
In a statement released on Tuesday night and personally signed by the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, the Navy disclosed that the operation took place on May 12, 2025.
It formed part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
According to Aniaku, the refining sites included 45 ovens, 30 reservoirs, and 75 dugout pits.
These contained about 60,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 80,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and 33,000 litres of kerosene.
The Navy also discovered two illicitly connected wellheads used by oil thieves to siphon crude oil into the illegal camps.
The pipes attached to these wellheads were dismantled during the operation. “No arrests were made, as the suspects fled upon sighting the patrol team,” the statement noted, adding that all products found were handled according to anti-crude oil theft protocols.
Read Also:https://fusionchronicles.ng/efcc-arrests-17-suspected-internet-fraudsters-in-kwara/
Commodore Aniaku praised the operatives for their courage and reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment, under the leadership of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to eradicating crude oil theft and illegal refining activities which continue to threaten Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
