The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder has destroyed five illegal oil refining sites in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to the Navy, the illicit operations involved large-scale oil bunkering activities, with the discovery of 62 ovens, 21 reservoirs, and 55 dugout pits containing an estimated 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.

Additionally, operatives recovered about 83,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 20,000 litres of refined kerosene from the sites.

Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, disclosed this in a statement released to the press in Port Harcourt on Sunday night. He noted that the operation was carried out on June 14, 2025, by the Tactical Team of NNS Pathfinder as part of efforts to clamp down on crude oil theft and illegal refining.

The statement read in part:
“On June 14, 2025, the NNS Pathfinder conducted a successful operation targeting crude oil theft and illegal refining in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni area. Acting on reliable intelligence, our Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team deployed personnel and assets to the area and uncovered a newly activated illegal refinery.”

The operation led to the dismantling of five active refining sites, where thousands of litres of crude and refined products were discovered. The Navy confirmed that the recovered materials were handled in accordance with standard anti-oil theft procedures.

No arrests were made during the operation, as the suspects reportedly fled upon spotting the naval team.

Aniaku reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to tackling oil theft and illegal refining activities, which continue to threaten Nigeria’s economic and energy stability.