The Nigerian Navy has dismantled two reactivated illegal refining sites in Rivers State, recovering more than 126,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The operation marks a renewed push by security forces to curb the persistent threat of crude oil theft and illegal refining in the country’s key oil-producing region.
The seizure underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in securing the Niger Delta’s infrastructure.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has previously commended military operations against crude oil theft, asserting that such security measures are directly contributing to higher oil production and reduced losses for the sector.
The latest bust follows earlier operations in which the Navy uncovered and dismantled an illegal crude oil storage facility in the same state, recovering 20,500 litres of the commodity.
Illegal refining remains a significant drain on Nigeria’s oil output, with estimates suggesting that hundreds of thousands of barrels are lost annually to theft and unregulated processing.
These activities not only reduce revenue for the state and major producers but also pose severe environmental and safety risks to local communities.