Rivers State, Nigeria – June 16, 2025
The Nigerian Navy has destroyed five illegal refineries and recovered stolen crude oil in Rivers State as part of its intensified crackdown on oil theft and illegal bunkering operations in the Niger Delta.
The operation, carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, targeted illegal refining sites in the Bille and Cawthorne Channel areas of Rivers State. The sites were reportedly found with active refining activities and large quantities of stolen crude oil.
According to the Navy, the illegal refineries were dismantled and set ablaze in accordance with standard operating procedures. The troops also recovered multiple storage facilities containing thousands of litres of stolen crude and illegally refined petroleum products.
Commander of the NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to eradicating oil theft, stating that the recent success reflects the Navy’s resolve to protect national economic assets and deter environmental degradation caused by illegal refining.
He noted that surveillance and intelligence operations have been enhanced across creeks and waterways to locate and eliminate illegal bunkering camps.
The operation is part of the Nigerian Navy’s broader efforts under Operation Delta Sanity, aimed at safeguarding the nation’s oil infrastructure and curbing the massive revenue losses linked to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
