The Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder has dismantled five illegal refining sites in Rivers State as part of its latest crackdown on crude oil theft and bunkering.
Commander of the NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Cajethan Aniaku, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night, June 15, following an operation carried out on 14 June 2025 in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
“On 14 June 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,” Aniaku said.
According to him, the operation was led by the Tactical Riverine Assault Squadron Team of the NNS Pathfinder, which had acted on credible intelligence.
“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 within the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni general area. During the operation, the team discovered a newly activated illegal refining site,” he said.
He further revealed that the Navy uncovered and dismantled five illegal refining sites during the mission.
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“Accordingly, the team identified and dismantled five illegal refining sites with 62 ovens, 21 reservoirs and 55 dugout pits containing approximately 50,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 83,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 20,000 litres of illegally refined kerosene,” he stated.
Aniaku said the products were disposed of following anti-crude oil theft procedures. However, no arrests were made as the operators escaped before the team arrived.
“The products were handled by anti-crude oil theft procedures. No arrests were made as the perpetrators fled upon sighting the patrol team,” the statement noted.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to stamp out crude oil theft and protect Nigeria’s economy.
Aniaku said these activities continue to pose “significant threats to the nation’s economy and energy security.”