The Nigerian Navy and the Federal Government Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft have uncovered a 40,000-litre capacity illegal refinery hidden deep inside the creeks of Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The discovery followed actionable intelligence coordinated through the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team, which comprises personnel from several security and intelligence agencies.
Speaking with journalists in Bonny on Friday, the Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Captain Stanley Umeh, described the discovery as the biggest facility his team had uncovered since he assumed command in March 2026.
Umeh said navy gunboats transported the operatives into the creeks before they trekked through dense vegetation to reach the clandestine facility.
“This discovery here is a product of long-time synergy between the base and other security agencies within the island and outside. It has been a product of actionable intelligence over time,” he said.
The Navy commander explained that the facility was different from many illegal refineries previously discovered because it had not yet reached the stage where crude oil had been deposited or processed.
According to him, the facility was still being prepared for large-scale crude oil theft and refining.
“Most times, we see illegal refineries with pits and crude deposited inside. Some have already cooked, and some are yet to be cooked. But this discovery is like nipping the act in the bud.”
“This is their preparatory stage. You could see from the build-up and the set-up of the illegal refinery, it’s meant to be a very big one that would see the siphoning or stealing of crude and brought here for cooking in large quantity,” Umeh added.
He described the discovery as a boost to efforts to tackle crude oil theft and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production.
“This discovery is a plus to the fight against crude oil theft in Nigeria, towards increasing the production or crude sales production in the country.”
Umeh also assured residents that the Navy would intensify surveillance and patrols across Bonny’s waterways and remote areas to prevent similar activities.
“It’s been a zero tolerance for us, both in and out of the waters. It’s been zero tolerance for this kind of illegality within Bonny Local Government Area generally,” he said.
Acknowledging the difficulty of detecting illegal facilities concealed by thick vegetation, Umeh said the Navy would expand its land and water surveillance operations.
“We will continue to raid and make sure they have no hiding places. It is a zero tolerance.”
He said the operation was also in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff on the fight against crude oil theft.
Also speaking, Omar Sini, Head of Investigation of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft, said the discovery was the result of collaboration between intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies.
Sini said the task force was inaugurated by the Federal Government on March 1, 2025, with a mandate to investigate and prosecute illicit activities in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector.
He, however, called for stronger sentencing provisions for petroleum theft offences, arguing that existing penalties do not always provide sufficient deterrence.
The authorities did not disclose any arrest or prosecution arising from the discovery in the information provided.
How did this story make you feel?
Join the conversation
Share a thoughtful response. Submissions may be reviewed before appearing.
