NAVY DISCOVERS ILLEGAL REFINERY IN RIVERS, ARRESTS THREE

The Nigerian Navy and the Federal Government Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft have uncovered a 40,000-litre-capacity illegal refinery in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The facility was discovered deep inside the creeks during a joint operation based on intelligence coordinated by the Joint Intelligence Monitoring Team. Three suspects allegedly linked to financing the operation were arrested.

The Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Captain Stanley Umeh, said the facility was still at the preparatory stage and had not yet begun processing crude oil.

He described the discovery as the biggest such facility uncovered by his team since he assumed command in March 2026.

Umeh said the Navy would intensify surveillance and patrols across the waterways and remote areas of Bonny to prevent crude oil theft and other illegal activities.

The Head of Investigation of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Petroleum Theft, Omar John Sini, said the operation resulted from cooperation among intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies.

He said the task force had secured 137 convictions since its establishment in March 2025 and would continue efforts to disrupt petroleum-related crimes before they become operational.