By Gabriel Ameh
The Nigerian Navy has dismantled an illegal refining site in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The operation was carried out by the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny as part of efforts to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the area.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement.
According to the Navy, the site was discovered on September 30, 2026, following credible intelligence.
The illegal refining facility contained one large cooking pot and three large storage tanks believed to have been intended for the processing and storage of stolen crude oil.
On October 2, the Commanding Officer of FOB Bonny, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in line with established regulations.
The Navy said the operation further reduced the infrastructure available to criminal operators involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining within the Bonny area.
It added that the action forms part of recent operations conducted by FOB Bonny under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, which have uncovered suspected stolen crude oil and illegal refining infrastructure within its area of operations.
The Nigerian Navy said it would continue to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites.
The measures, it said, are aimed at denying criminal operators the infrastructure needed to sustain crude oil theft, illegal refining and related activities.
Credit: Nigerian Navy
