The operation was conducted by the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Bonny, on 5 November 2026, at Awokiri Community in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of the state.
The Director of Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
He said the operation followed credible intelligence reports about the establishment of new illegal refining sites in the community.
According to the statement, the naval team discovered 16 dugout pits, nine of which contained approximately 115,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
Another storage tank held about 2,000 litres, bringing the total volume of recovered petroleum products to approximately 117,000 litres.
“Four other pits contained water, while three were freshly excavated,” Folorunsho said.
He added that the identified sites, dugout pits and petroleum products were handled in accordance with existing regulations.
Folorunsho said the operation formed part of the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and illegal bunkering through intelligence-led operations.
He explained that dismantling illegal refining facilities would disrupt the activities of those involved in crude oil theft and help safeguard the country’s oil and gas infrastructure.
