By KENNEDY SHEYIN

The Nigerian Navy says it has frustrated renewed attempts by crude oil theft syndicates to re-establish a major illegal refining network in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, on Saturday in Abuja.

Folorunsho said that the feat was achieved by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, during sustained anti-crude oil theft patrols within the area.

He also said that the navy was reinforcing ongoing efforts to deny economic saboteurs, the ability to regenerate criminal infrastructure across the Niger Delta.

“According to him, acting on actionable intelligence, naval personnel advanced to identified locations around Egbema where criminal elements had reportedly resumed activities at illegal refining sites previously dismantled during earlier operations.

“Subsequent exploitation of the area confirmed the reactivation of three illegal refining sites supported by an extensive network of thirteen dugout pits.

“Personnel discovered about 260,000 litres of products suspected to be crude oil and about 405,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) across the site.

“This indicates a significant attempt to restore production capacity within the area.

“Preliminary findings revealed that the operators continued to exploit crude oil sourced from an abandoned wellhead in the area, demonstrating the persistence of criminal networks in adapting dormant infrastructure for illicit activities.”

The naval director of information, said that the operation, beyond the volume of products recovered, underscored the Nigerian Navy’s growing focus on preventing the regeneration of illegal refining ecosystems.

He further said that intelligence indicated that in spite of previous enforcement actions, criminal elements had repeatedly attempted to reoccupy the same locations.

“This underscores the strategic importance of sustained monitoring and rapid interdiction operations.

“The illegal refining sites, dugout pits, and associated products were subsequently handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively disrupting the renewed illegal refining attempt.

“The Nigerian navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting critical national assets, and safeguarding the economic interests of the nation,” he added.(NAN)

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