Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Pathfinder, have destroyed nine illegal refining sites containing 175,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Nigerian Navy said the illegal sites were equipped with 45 ovens, 30 reservoirs, and 75 dugout pits. These sites held approximately 60,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 80,000 liters of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and 33,000 litres of kerosene.
The operation, which was carried out on May 12, forms part of the Navy’s sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, disclosed this in a statement he personally signed and released in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night.
According to Aniaku, the Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team of NNS Pathfinder also discovered two wellheads that had been illegally connected with pipes used by oil thieves to siphon crude oil to their camps.
The statement partly reads, “On 12 May 2025, the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder successfully conducted an operation against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities within the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni general area.
“The NNS Pathfinder’s Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team, acting on credible intelligence, deployed personnel and assets to conduct anti-crude oil theft and illegal bunkering operations. During the operation, the team discovered two wellheads connected with pipes used for siphoning crude oil.
“The team dismantled the pipes connected to the wellheads and also dismantled nine illegal refining sites with 45 ovens, 30 reservoirs, and 75 dugout pits containing approximately 60,000 liters of suspected stolen crude oil, 80,000 liters of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, and 33,000 liters of kerosene.
“The products were handled in accordance with anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrests were made, as the perpetrators fled upon sighting the patrol team.”
Aniaku commended the personnel involved for their bravery and professionalism. He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Admiralty Medal), to intensifying the fight against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, which he said pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
