Nigerian Navy Dismantles Illegal Refinery, Seizes 29,000 Litres Of Suspected Stolen Crude In Rivers State.
The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny has struck a significant blow against crude oil theft, deactivating an illegal refining site in Peterside Community, Bonny Local Council, and seizing approximately 29,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in two separate operations on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
In the first operation, a specialist anti-crude oil theft team, acting on credible intelligence, conducted an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission in Peterside Community. The team uncovered an active illegal refining site concealed behind the community, complete with cooking tanks, storage tanks, plastic tanks, and a dug-out pit. The site contained around 19,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, including 5,000 litres in a storage tank, 1,000 litres in two plastic tanks, 1,000 litres in a dug-out pit, and 12,000 litres in a large wooden boat hidden at the community’s entrance.
Lieutenant Commander Sirajo Almustapha, Base Operations Officer of FOB Bonny, confirmed that the illegal site was promptly deactivated, and the stolen products were impounded. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible.
In a related operation earlier that day, at approximately 3:00 a.m., FOB Bonny operatives stationed at Oputumbi intercepted a large wooden boat transporting an additional 10,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil. The boat and its cargo were confiscated in accordance with regulations, further demonstrating the Navy’s vigilance in tackling oil theft.
Lieutenant Commander Almustapha reiterated the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to combatting crude oil theft and illegal bunkering within its operational area. “We will continue to act decisively against these criminal activities,” he stated, urging perpetrators to abandon such practices and pursue lawful livelihoods.
These operations follow a string of successful interventions by the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta. Recent reports indicate that troops have arrested 23 suspected oil thieves, dismantled 16 illegal refineries, and recovered over 1.7 million litres of crude oil in the region. In January alone, the Navy destroyed multiple illegal refineries and impounded significant quantities of stolen crude.
The Nigerian Navy’s efforts in Rivers State underscore its critical role in safeguarding the nation’s oil resources and curbing economic sabotage. Authorities have vowed to sustain these operations to ensure a secure and lawful environment for Nigeria’s oil industry.
