The Nigerian Navy has deactivated illegal refining sites and reined in 124,000 litres of stolen crude oil after an operation in Awokiri area in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
A statement by the Operations Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (NNFOB) BONNY, Lieutenant Commander, Sirajo Almustapha disclosed this on Thursday, August 7, 2025 in Bonny, Rivers State.
He disclosed that the FOB BONNY’S anti-crude oil theft team while on patrol on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at about 12:55PM discovered the four illegal refining sites situated serially next to each other over an area estimated to be about 150meters long.
He further disclosed that the operation is part of activities and tasks aimed at “actualizing the operational objectives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla”.
According to him, these operational objectives include “routine patrols, anti-Crude Oil Theft (COT), anti-illegal bunkering and anti-kidnapping operations,” adding that “the operations also involve the protection of critical national infrastructure and securing the commercial routes within the Base’s Area of Operation (AOO)”.
“On Tuesday 5 August 2025 at about 1255, FOB BONNY anti-Crude Oil Theft Team while on patrol discovered 4 illegal refining sites situated serially next to each other over an area estimated to be about 150m long.
The team further observed 4 large metal tanks with open tops at the mouth of the river, each having a steel pipe connected to the illegal refining sites. Subsequently, the team beach landed for further assessment.
Notably, the 4 illegal refining sites were active as evidenced by fresh suspected stolen crude oil in dug out pits and metal tanks.
At the sites, the team discovered a cumulative 12 dug out pits each containing an estimated 5,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil, 4 large storage metal tanks each containing an estimated 14,000 litres of product suspected to be stolen crude oil and 4 large cooking tanks each laden with an estimated 2,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Other items discovered at the sites include one pumping machine, steel pipes and several hoses of varying sizes as well as one empty 50 litres jerry can.
Furthermore, it was observed that each cooking tank was connected to a metal pipe that runs through a metal water tank acting as coolant through to the large tanks at the river mouth, suspected to be the loading points.
Cumulatively, an estimated 124,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil were discovered at the sites. Pertinently, this amount of stolen crude oil was denied criminal elements.”
Lt Cdr Almustapha asserted that “Consequent upon this, the Base has activated measures towards denying criminal elements freedom of action within FOB BONNY area of operation,” advising criminal elements in the area to “desist from illegalities and seek alternative as well as legal means of livelihood.
