Navy Destroys Four Illegal Refining Sites In Bayelsa, Rivers

The Nigeria Navy has said its operatives destroyed at least three illegal refining sites in Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively.

The Navy disclosed this in a series of terse statements shared via its X handle (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

The maritime security service noted that its personnel under the auspices of Operation DELTA SANITY, destroyed two illegal refining sites with refining ovens on Sunday.

The operation which occurred in the Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State also destroyed metal drums, several dug-outpits and wooden boats, and sacks laden with stolen crude.

Also in the Bolo general area of Rivers State, Navy personnel under Operation DELTA SANITY, destroyed an illegal refining site with one cooking tank.

According to the service, the personnel destroyed a storage tank and a dug-out pit laden with an unspecified amount of stolen crude oil.

The development comes 24 hours after the Navy’s Ship PATHFINDER discovered and destroyed an illegal refining site with several metal and plastic drums.

The structures, according to the Nigerian Navy were used for refining illegally siphoned crude oil from wellheads within Ogoloma Creek, Rivers State.

Five suspected crude oil thieves were also arrested during the operation.