Navy deactivates illegal refinery, recovers 20,000 litres of crude in Rivers
By Precious Igbonwelundu The Nigerian Navy has deactivated an Illegal Refining Site (IRS) at Allison Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where over 20,000 litres of suspected
By Precious Igbonwelundu
The Nigerian Navy has deactivated an Illegal Refining Site (IRS) at Allison Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were recovered.
Personnel deployed for Operation Delta Sentinel carried out the operation following credible intelligence on illegal refining activities in the area, a statement yesterday by the Director of Naval Information (DINFO) Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said.
He said personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, deployed an anti-crude oil theft patrol team that uncovered the site, which contained dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, and sacks filled with products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
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Further assessment showed more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude stored at the facility. The illegal refining infrastructure was subsequently dismantled in line with operational procedures, while suspects fled on sighting the patrol team.
Folorunsho said the operation reflects the Navy’s sustained crackdown on crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.
He added that the effort aligned with directives by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, for intensified intelligence-driven operations to protect critical oil infrastructure and support the Federal Government’s target of increasing crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day.
