The operation, conducted on 11 November by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, was carried out under Operation Delta Sentinel following intelligence reports indicating illegal oil bunkering activities in the community.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the facilities contained eight dugout pits and storage containers holding an estimated 23,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 30,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
He said the recovered products and facilities were handled in line with established procedures for combating crude oil theft and illegal refining.
No arrests were made during the operation, as the suspected operators reportedly escaped before the arrival of the naval team.
The latest operation follows an earlier raid by NNS Pathfinder in the same general area on 10 October, when three illegal refining sites were discovered and deactivated.
The Navy said the successive operations demonstrated its resolve to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, disrupt crude oil theft networks and prevent the exploitation of the country’s petroleum resources.
It also pledged to sustain intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, support national crude oil production and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, and the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Badagry, have renewed their commitment to joint operations aimed at tackling smuggling and other illegal activities along the country’s waterways.
The renewed collaboration followed a courtesy visit by the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Western Marine Command, Thomas Jonah, to the FOB Commander, Naval Captain Sa’id Kabir, in Badagry, Lagos, yesterday.
According to a statement issued by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Adewumi Rasheed, the meeting centred on strengthening inter-agency cooperation to improve maritime security and protect lives and property.
The engagement comes ahead of the festive season, a period during which authorities are concerned about possible attempts by smugglers to transport counterfeit goods, illicit drugs and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country through inland waterways.
The meeting also followed a series of anti-smuggling operations that resulted in the seizure of 14,100 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 204 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 40 cartons of assorted cosmetic products.
The seized items had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N83.12 million.
Speaking during the visit, Jonah stressed the importance of closer cooperation, mutual support and effective communication between the Customs Service and the Navy in addressing security challenges along the waterways.
He sought the Navy’s continued support in strengthening joint operations to secure the maritime environment, protect lives and property, and prevent illicit activities.
Responding, Kabir assured the Customs delegation of the Navy’s readiness to maintain cooperation with the Western Marine Command in pursuit of their shared security objectives.
He said the visit underscored the commitment of both agencies to sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing and coordinated operations to enhance maritime safety and national security.
