By Onyeanya Ebere
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS), Pathfinder has destroyed five illegal refining sites in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State during a targeted operation against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.
According to a statement issued on Sunday night by the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, the illegal sites were uncovered and dismantled during a raid conducted on June 14, 2025, by the Navy’s Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the team deployed personnel and assets to the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni area.
“During the operation, they discovered and dismantled five newly activated illegal refining sites,” Aniaku stated.
The Navy revealed that the sites housed 62 ovens, 21 reservoirs, and 55 dugout pits containing approximately 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
Additionally, operatives recovered 83,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 20,000 litres of refined kerosene.
“The products were destroyed in accordance with anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrests were made, as the suspects fled upon sighting the patrol team,” the statement added.
Commodore Aniaku reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment, under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to combating crude oil theft and illegal refining operations, which he described as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
He emphasized that such operations will continue until oil theft and environmental sabotage are eradicated from the region.
