The Nigerian Navy has revealed that its operatives uncovered and dismantled eight unauthorized crude oil refining facilities in Delta State.
In addition, the Navy reported that a significant amount of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products were confiscated during the missions.
While addressing newsmen in Warri on Tuesday, the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos, Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, confirmed the successful operations.
Okoloagu noted that the raids were carried out under Operation DELTA SANITY II, a targeted campaign focused on combating oil theft and economic sabotage in the resource-rich Niger Delta area.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, with the seizure of approximately 16,040 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” Okoloagu disclosed.
He further detailed that the equipment used in the illicit refining activities was discovered hidden within two locally fabricated ovens, 43 excavated storage pits, and 18 plastic sacks.