The Nigerian Navy has destroyed an illegal refining site containing three large storage tanks and a cooking pot in Promise Land Community, along Nanabie Creek in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. The operation was carried out last week by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny following credible intelligence that led naval personnel to the site.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the Commanding Officer of FOB Bonny, Captain SMC Umeh, led the operation and supervised the destruction of the illegal refining equipment in line with established regulations. The Navy said the operation disrupted an illicit facility that could have been used to process and store stolen crude oil, cutting off infrastructure needed to sustain illegal refining in the area.
The latest raid forms part of the Navy’s wider operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to combat crude oil theft and illegal refining across its area of responsibility. The Navy said it would intensify surveillance and monitoring around Bonny and neighbouring waterways to prevent illegal refining sites from being established or reactivated.
The operation comes amid continued efforts by Nigerian security agencies to curb crude oil theft, which has undermined oil production and caused significant economic and environmental damage across the Niger Delta.