Navy discovers 40,000-litre illegal refinery in Rivers, three suspects held

The Nigerian Navy and the Federal Government's task force on petroleum theft have discovered a 40,000-litre illegal refinery site in the creeks of Bonny Island, Rivers State. This facility was uncovered through a joint operation involving intelligence teams from various security agencies, coordinated via the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team.

Navy Captain Stanley Umeh, commanding officer of the Forward Operating Base in Bonny, stated that this was the largest such discovery made since he took command in March 2026. The facility, still in the preparatory stage, was not yet conducting full-scale crude oil processing. Umeh emphasized that halting the operation at this stage represents a significant intervention in curbing petroleum theft and protecting national oil production.

The Navy assured continued surveillance of Bonny's waterways and remote areas to prevent further petroleum-related criminal activities. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft, established in March 2025, has secured 137 convictions to date, contributing to a decline in illicit activities within Nigeria's hydrocarbon sector.

Three suspects involved in financing the illegal refinery have been apprehended and are in custody. The authorities are planning to prosecute those linked to the facility and advocate for a review of the legal framework governing petroleum theft offenses due to potential inadequacies in deterring such crimes.