Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, have successfully dismantled five illegal oil refining sites during a recent operation in the Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The raid, conducted on June 14, 2025, uncovered extensive illegal bunkering infrastructure including 62 ovens, 21 reservoirs, and 55 dugout pits. Naval authorities estimated that the sites contained approximately 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 83,000 litres of illegally refined diesel (Automotive Gas Oil), and 200,000 litres of illegally processed kerosene.
Naval Operation Details
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, confirmed the operation in an official statement. According to Aniaku, the ship's Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team carried out the raid based on credible intelligence.
"The team deployed personnel and assets to the area, where they uncovered a newly activated illegal refining camp within the local government," Aniaku stated. He added that all recovered products were handled in accordance with the Navy's standard procedures for addressing oil theft.
No suspects were apprehended during the operation, as the operators reportedly fled upon sighting the naval patrol.
Navy's Commitment to Fighting Oil Theft
Commodore Aniaku reaffirmed the Navy's dedication to the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining operations. He emphasized that under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Navy remains resolutely focused on tackling threats to Nigeria's economy and energy infrastructure.
This operation comes amid continued efforts by security agencies to combat the persistent problem of oil theft in the Niger Delta region, which has significantly impacted Nigeria's oil production capacity and government revenues.
The Nigerian Navy's intervention represents a critical step in the government's broader strategy to secure the nation's oil assets and ensure the sustainability of Nigeria's primary revenue source.
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