The Nigerian Navy has uncovered about 117,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil during an operation that led to the dismantling of three illegal refining sites in Rivers State.
The operation, carried out by the Forward Operating Base, FOB, Bonny, took place on November 5, 2026, at Awokiri Community in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of the state.
The Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
According to the statement, the operation followed credible intelligence about the establishment of new illegal refining sites in the area.
“The team discovered 16 dugout pits, nine of which held about 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while another storage tank contained 2,000 litres, bringing the total volume to approximately 117,000 litres.”
“Four other pits contained water, while three were freshly excavated,” Folorunsho said.
He added that the identified sites, pits and petroleum products were handled in line with existing regulations.
Folorunsho said the operation was part of the Navy’s efforts to tackle crude oil theft and illegal bunkering through intelligence-led operations.
He explained that dismantling illegal refining facilities would disrupt the activities of those involved in crude oil theft and help protect the country’s oil and gas infrastructure.