PORT HARCOURT — The Nigerian Navy has disrupted attempts by suspected oil thieves to reactivate illegal refining operations in Rivers State, recovering approximately 103,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the operation was carried out on August 22, 2026, by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder following intelligence on illegal refining activities around the Ohaji axis of Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area. The naval team discovered three illegal refining sites containing 12 dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs filled with the suspected illegally refined products. Two pumping machines were also recovered from the sites.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the Director of Information of the Nigerian Navy, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the latest operation came barely a week after NNS Pathfinder disrupted two illegal refining sites within the same general area on August 15. “The successive operations have constrained efforts by criminal elements to rebuild and reactivate illegal refining infrastructure in the area,” he said.
No arrest was made during the operation, as the suspected operators had fled before the arrival of naval personnel. Folorunsho said the operations were denying criminal elements the capacity to restore their illicit activities and contributing to the protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.
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