Oil theft: Nigerian Navy Destroys 23 Illegal Refineries in October

The Nigerian Navy, operating under the framework of Operation DELTA SANITY, uncovered and dismantled 23 illegal refinery sites while recovering a significant quantity of stolen crude oil in October. 

This was made known in a statement issued by Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Director of Naval Information, on Tuesday in Abuja.  

Adams-Aliu stated that the operation also led to the destruction of 30 ovens, 26 reservoirs, 77 sacks, 19 dugout pits, 21 wooden boats, four jerry cans, and two pumping machines.  

He added that substantial quantities of crude oil and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were retrieved during various missions conducted throughout the month.  

These efforts, he noted, have positively impacted Nigeria’s crude oil production levels.  

In addition, he highlighted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited recently reported a rise in the country’s crude oil output to 1.8 million barrels per day in October.

“On Oct. 8, three illegal refinery sites, 15 ovens, 12 reservoirs, five dugout pits and two wooden boats laden with about 12,000 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered and destroyed around Bakana River, Bukuma axis and Ogaji-Ama of Rivers. 

“On Oct. 9, one suspect with one locally made pistol was arrested with three cases of ammunition. Also, three illegal refinery sites, as well as five reservoirs, two ovens, one dugout pit, and two wooden boats cumulatively laden with about 900 liters of product suspected to be stolen crude oil, were discovered around the Otuwo and Ogboinbiri general area of Bayelsa. 

“On Oct. 11, five illegal refinery sites with four ovens, three reservoirs and a few sacks laden with about 4,000 liters of stolen crude oil were discovered around Ugbokodo and Christian village in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta. 

“Also, a market boat laden with about 2,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in jerry cans and sacks was discovered at Idi-Ogba, Ondo State,” he said. 

The NNPCL and the Ministry of Petroleum had estimated that Nigeria loses between 200,000 and 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily due to theft.

Earlier, Mele Kyari, disclosed that since the crackdown on illegal refineries began in 2022, 8,684 sites—described as “boiling points” rather than actual refineries—have been deactivated.

He also revealed that 6,610 illegal pipeline connections were identified, with 5,913 of them successfully removed.

However, Kyari highlighted that more than 1,000 illegal connections still exist, and new ones are reconnected daily, making the fight against oil theft challenging.