The Nigerian Navy, under Operation Delta Sentinel, has prevented the establishment of new illegal refining infrastructure in Bonny, Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following intelligence reports of suspicious activities within the Promise Land area of Bonny Local Government Area.
The Nigerian Navy, in a press statement issued by its Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho quotes “
In response to the intelligence, an Anti-Crude Oil Theft patrol team launched a coordinated reconnaissance mission across nearby creeks and waterways.
During the operation, aerial surveillance identified concealed refining equipment hidden beneath thick vegetation within the area.
Ground troops later confirmed the existence of two newly constructed illegal refining sites strategically located close to the river channel.
The illegal camps contained improvised cooking pots, connected pipe networks, and support facilities intended for refining and transporting stolen petroleum products.
Further investigation revealed that the operators were still in the early stages of establishing the camps before commencing full illegal refining activities.
The Nigerian Navy subsequently dismantled the illegal refining sites in line with operational procedures and placed the area under continuous surveillance.
According to the Navy, the operation demonstrates its proactive strategy of disrupting illegal refining infrastructure before criminal networks fully establish operational capacity.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at protecting critical national assets and combating economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
