Oil theft illegal refineries within the Niger Delta region have been uncovered and destroyed by the Nigerian Navy.

One of the illegal sites is in Minima Community in the Buguma axis of Rivers State in the south-south region.

The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, Commodore Shuwa Mohammed, said the activities of the oil thieves posed grave danger to the nation’s economy.

He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to ending the activities of crude oil thieves in the region through routine aerial and ground surveillance.

An air patrol over the weekend revealed a wide area ravaged by crude oil pollution, with many pockets of illegal refineries in the region.

Oil thieves were seen in their boats with drums and jerry cans used in syphoning crude oil for onward refining. They fled with their speed boats when they noticed the helicopter hovering around them.

Several operators of the illegal refinery were arrested by the naval officials, who also destroyed the illegal refineries.

A spokesman for the team said that the destruction was in line with a directive by the Chief of Naval Staff to stop all illegal refineries within the Niger delta region.

With large tanks, the oil thieves cook the syphoned crude oil extracting refined products.

The illegal refining activities in the area have resulted in a huge devastation of the area, reducing the chances of farming activities on the vast land. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.