By Hilary Kokoma

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another operational success under Operation Delta Sentinel with the discovery and deactivation of an illegal refining site in Allison Community, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Acting on credible intelligence, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, under the Eastern Naval Command, deployed an anti-crude oil theft patrol team to the area. The operation led to the identification of an active illegal refining site comprising dugout pits, locally fabricated cooking and cooling systems, as well as sacks containing large quantities of products suspected to be stolen crude oil.
Further assessment of the site revealed over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored within the facility. The illegal refining infrastructure and recovered products were subsequently handled in accordance with extant operational procedures.
The perpetrators reportedly fled the scene upon sighting the naval patrol team.
The Nigerian Navy said the operation underscores its sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, in line with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The Navy reiterated its commitment to intensifying operations and leveraging intelligence to protect critical oil infrastructure, while contributing to the Federal Government’s target of achieving 2.5 million barrels of oil production per day within the year.