The Nigerian Navy recovered approximately 1,600 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) during an interdiction in Rivers State, officials said on Sunday.
A statement from Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, confirmed that the seizure was part of Operation Delta Sentinel, conducted by personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh. The operation was launched after intelligence indicated illegal refining activities in the Okolomade community of Abua‑Odual Local Government Area, a locale that borders Bayelsa State.
According to the navy, an anti‑crude‑oil‑theft team was deployed to the Orashi Forest area, where aerial surveillance using an unmanned system identified several concealed sacks. The sacks were believed to contain refined AGO, a product derived from stolen crude oil and often sold on the black market.
Troops recovered 16 sacks, each holding roughly 100 litres, bringing the total volume to about 1,600 litres. The suspects fled upon sighting the naval personnel, and the recovered material was processed in accordance with standard operational procedures.
Captain Folorunsho said the seizure demonstrates the navy’s continued effort to dismantle illegal refining networks and curb crude‑oil theft in the Niger Delta. He emphasized that “there will be no safe haven for economic saboteurs,” adding that sustained operations will persist across the nation’s waterways and creeks.
Illegal refining of AGO has been a persistent challenge in the Niger Delta, where stolen crude is processed in makeshift facilities and sold at discounted rates, undermining legal markets and fueling environmental degradation. The navy’s involvement reflects a broader security strategy that combines maritime patrols, intelligence gathering, and aerial surveillance to disrupt such illicit activities.
The operation aligns with recent government initiatives to tighten control over the country’s oil assets and protect revenue streams. Authorities have indicated that further investigations will seek to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible for the hidden refining operation.
The recovery of the 1,600 litres of suspected AGO underscores the navy’s role in protecting Nigeria’s oil sector and reinforces the message that illegal refining and crude‑oil theft will be met with decisive action.
