Nigerian Navy Discovers Major Illegal Refinery in Rivers

A joint operation by the Nigerian Navy and the federal government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft led to the discovery of a 40,000-litre illegal refinery in Bonny Island, Rivers State. The refinery was concealed within the creeks of Bonny and was uncovered following actionable intelligence coordinated by the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team.

Captain Stanley Umeh, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Bonny, stated that this discovery is the largest since he took command in March 2026. Unlike previous illegal refineries, this facility was still in the preparatory stage, indicating a potential for large-scale crude oil theft.

Umeh emphasized the importance of this discovery in the fight against crude oil theft, aiming to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production. He assured residents of intensified surveillance and patrols in the area.

Omar John Sini, Head of Investigation for the Inter-Agency Task Force, noted that the operation was a result of collaboration among various security and law enforcement agencies.