Nigerian Navy has uncovered about 117,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled three illegal refining sites at Awokiri Community in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen over the weekend in Abuja.
Captain Fol to said the operation was carried out on Thursday, November 5, by personnel of the Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following intelligence reports about the emergence of new illegal refining sites in the area.
He said a search of the location led to the discovery of 16 dugout pits. Nine contained approximately 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while a separate storage tank held another 2,000 litres.
According to him, four other pits contained water, while three had been freshly excavated, suggesting that preparations for further illegal refining activities were already underway.
The Navy said the sites, pits and products were handled in accordance with extant regulations.
It added that the operation was part of its efforts to curb crude oil theft and illegal bunkering through intelligence-led operations.
The navy said it would continue to target illegal refining activities, protect oil and gas infrastructure and deny criminal groups access to the nation’s petroleum resources.
