Nigerian Navy personnel recovered approximately 1,600 litres of suspected illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO) during a joint operation in Rivers State, officials announced on Sunday.
The recovery was made by the crew of the Nigerian Navy ship NNS Soroh under Operation Delta Sentinel, following intelligence reports of unlawful refining activity. According to Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, the operation took place in the Okolomade community of Abua‑Odual Local Government Area, close to the border with Bayelsa State.
The anti‑crude‑oil‑theft team was deployed to the Orashi Forest area, where aerial surveillance using an unmanned aerial vehicle identified concealed sacks believed to contain refined AGO. Navy personnel seized 16 sacks, each holding roughly 100 litres, bringing the total volume recovered to about 1,600 litres.
The suspects fled when they spotted the naval team. The seized material was processed in accordance with standard operational procedures.
Captain Folorunsho said the operation demonstrates the navy’s commitment to dismantling illegal refining networks and curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta. “There will be no safe haven for economic saboteurs, as sustained operations continue across the nation’s waterways and creeks,” he added.
The seizure reflects ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to combat illicit oil activities that fuel corruption, environmental degradation, and revenue loss. Authorities have not disclosed whether any arrests followed the incident, but the navy indicated that investigations will continue to trace the source of the refined product and identify those responsible.
The incident underscores heightened vigilance in the region’s waterways, which remain a focal point for smuggling and illegal refining despite increased patrols and surveillance capabilities.
