The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder has dismantled five illegal refining sites in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, seizing over 150,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and suspected stolen crude oil.
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, confirmed the development in a statement made available to journalists in Port Harcourt. He said the operation, carried out on June 14, 2025, was executed by the Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team of NNS Pathfinder, based on actionable intelligence.
“During the raid, the team discovered and dismantled five illegal refining sites, comprising 62 ovens, 21 reservoirs, and 55 dugout pits,” Aniaku stated. “These facilities contained approximately 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 83,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 20,000 litres of illegally refined kerosene.”
No arrests were made as the suspects reportedly fled the scene upon sighting the naval patrol team. However, all recovered products were managed in line with standard anti-crude oil theft protocols.
Aniaku reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to eliminate crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities, describing them as severe threats to Nigeria’s economic and energy stability.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by security forces to clamp down on the oil theft epidemic in the Niger Delta region, which continues to cost the country billions in lost revenue annually.
