The Nigerian Navy has successfully demolished six illegal refining sites in the Obodo Omadina community, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ikenna Okoloagu, the commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos, shared the news with reporters on Monday. He explained that the operations were carried out in three phases, based on reliable intelligence.
“These operations were part of Operation Delta Sanity II and were carried out using actionable intelligence,” Okoloagu said. “This action supports the strategic objectives of Emmanuel Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff, in eliminating illegal activities within Nigeria’s waters.”
Okoloagu outlined the details of the operations, which began on April 21, 2025, when FOB Escravos personnel discovered and shut down two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadina. The sites contained roughly 1,900 litres of stolen crude oil, stored in two ovens and 10 dug-out pits.
On May 4, 2025, a follow-up operation uncovered and dismantled two more illegal refining sites in the same area. In this raid, operatives seized approximately 3,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 330 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil (AGO), which was stored in 11 dug-out pits and five polythene sacks.
A third raid took place on May 11, 2025, when two additional illegal refining sites were identified and destroyed. The operation resulted in the seizure of an estimated 3,050 litres of stolen crude oil and 675 litres of AGO, concealed in an oven, seven dug-out pits, and nine polythene sacks.
In total, six illegal refining sites were dismantled across the three operations, with 8,660 litres of crude oil and 1,005 litres of AGO seized, stored in three ovens, 28 dug-out pits, and 14 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu warned those involved in illegal refining activities to cease their operations. “We remain determined to disrupt the activities of economic saboteurs,” he emphasized.
