Navy dismantles four illegal refineries, arrests six
The Nigerian Navy has arrested six suspects and destroyed four illegal refinery sites in a series of coordinated operations conducted between April 20 and 22, 2025, in Bayelsa, Delta, and Anambra states.
The operations carried out under the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY targeted crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
In a statement on Thursday, the Navy’s spokesman, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, said personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH apprehended four suspected pipeline vandals in possession of tools used for pipeline sabotage around the Renaissance Africa Energy Company pipeline at River-Kolo Creek, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, April 20.
The statement read. “In a series of simultaneous operations conducted from 20 – 22 April 2025, under the auspices of the Nigerian Navy’s Operation DELTA SANITY, naval units in Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo states clamped down on crude oil thieves as detailed below:
“On Sunday, 20 April 2025, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH apprehended four suspected pipeline vandals with tools used for vandalising pipelines around Renaissance Africa Energy Company’s Pipeline at River-Kolo Creek, Bayelsa State.”
It added that “On Monday, 21 April 2025, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS discovered and deactivated two illegal refinery sites with two refining ovens and 10 dugout pits laden with large amounts of stolen crude oil in Oteghele, Obodo Omadino Community, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State.
“On Monday, 21 April 2025, Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH intercepted and impounded two vehicles laden with several sacks of illegally refined products in Olodo Community, Bayelsa State.”
The Naval Outpost Onitsha, on Tuesday, April 22, apprehended two suspects with a locally made rifle and 10 machetes.
“The suspects were in the process of attacking the SEEPCO oil facility in Oguikpele Community, Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State.
“Investigation revealed that these suspects were allegedly involved in the attack and killing of three soldiers on June 11, 2024,” the statement added.
Also on Tuesday, April 22, the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta discovered and deactivated two illegal refinery sites with nine dugout pits, several sacks and drums laden with large amounts of illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil in Bernnet Island and Obodo Omadino Community, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area.
“In the three-day coordinated anti-crude oil theft operations, a total of six suspects were arrested while four Illegal Refinery Sites and nine dug-out pits were deactivated, and two vehicles were seized.
“These operations underscore Nigerian Navy’s resolve to rid the maritime domain of crude oil thieves and other nefarious elements as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla,” the statement stated.
