The Nigerian Navy dismantled an illegal refinery in Rivers State capable of producing over two million liters of automotive gasoline daily. The operation, directed by Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, involved destroying over 500 crude oil cooking drums to combat oil theft and protect the nation’s infrastructure.
The Nigerian Navy has successfully dismantled an illegal refinery located along the Isaka/Ogoloma River in Rivers State, which was capable of producing over two million liters of automotive gasoline oil (AGO) daily. This operation, executed by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, followed a directive from Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla to combat oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta region.
During the operation, over 500 crude oil cooking drums were destroyed using a swamp buggy. The illegal refinery was linked to a nearby oil wellhead operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, and it was suspected that oil thieves were siphoning crude oil for refining purposes.
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Nnabuchi Aniaku, highlighted that the oil thieves had adapted their tactics by utilizing drums for refining stolen crude oil, making the operation more covert and easier to dismantle. The operation has thus far destroyed numerous pits and ovens capable of producing significant amounts of illegally refined petroleum products daily.
Commodore Aniaku issued a warning to those engaged in illegal refining, reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure and ensuring the eradication of such activities. He emphasized that efforts to locate and destroy illegal refining sites will continue until the issue is fully addressed.
