Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled a suspected illegal crude oil refining site in the Orashi National Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering equipment and materials believed to have been used for illicit refining activities.
The operation, conducted by troops of the 103 Battalion (Mechanised) in collaboration with personnel of the 5 Battalion and the 16 Brigade Garrison, forms part of ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and protect critical national assets in the Niger Delta region.
Military sources disclosed that the operation took place during a clearance exercise carried out in the forest between 11:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
According to the sources, troops discovered and dismantled the illegal refining site while combing the area for criminal elements involved in oil theft and related economic sabotage.
Items recovered from the site included one large oven drum, one large coolant, two small oven drums, one small coolant, a galvanised pipe measuring approximately 400 metres in length, and two sacks containing about 100 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
“The troops uncovered equipment and materials believed to have been used for illegal crude oil refining during the operation,” a source said.
The sources added that all recovered items were handled in line with established operational procedures guiding the ongoing anti-crude oil theft campaign.
The latest operation underscores the military’s sustained crackdown on illegal refining activities and crude oil theft, which have continued to pose significant threats to Nigeria’s economy, environmental sustainability and energy infrastructure.
Security authorities have maintained that operations across the Niger Delta will continue in a bid to dismantle illegal refining camps, disrupt oil theft networks and safeguard oil and gas facilities across the region.
