The Nigerian Navy has uncovered and dismantled reactivated illegal refining camps in the Ndoni area of Rivers State as part of intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Personnel from Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, discovered the sites during a targeted raid. Officials found multiple dugout pits and storage facilities that held large quantities of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Initial estimates put the total volume at approximately 184,000 litres.
The operation revealed how oil theft networks continue to exploit abandoned oil infrastructure in Rivers State to produce and store stolen products.
These camps reportedly resumed activities after previous enforcement actions, showing the adaptive tactics used by criminal syndicates in the region.
Naval forces noted that illegal refining now depends on interconnected supply, storage, and distribution systems designed to quickly recover after disruptions.
In response, Operation DELTA SENTINEL focuses on destroying these support networks and denying criminals safe operating spaces in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Authorities neutralized the illegal refining sites and recovered products according to standard procedures. Surveillance and follow-up operations continue in the area to prevent new activities.
This latest action in Rivers State highlights the Navy’s determination to protect Nigeria’s critical oil assets and stop economic sabotage in the maritime and coastal environment.
The service pledged to maintain sustained pressure on oil theft networks across the region.
