Troops Discover Large Illegal Refinery Setup in Rivers State Forest
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops conducting clearance operations in the Niger Delta have uncovered an illegal oil refining site in Orashi National Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where an estimated 10,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was found.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the discovery was made at about 6:00 p.m. on May 7, 2026, during a combined operation involving troops of 103 Battalion, 5 Battalion, and 16 Brigade Garrison.
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The sources said the troops uncovered one large drum oven, a big coolant system, and two large receivers containing the suspected illegally refined product. Two waste pits and two galvanized pipes, each estimated to be about 100 metres long, were also found at the site.
The discovered items were handled in accordance with existing operational directives under the Operation Delta Safe framework.
Military authorities said the site has been dismantled as part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft, illegal refining and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.
They added that troops would sustain aggressive patrols and intelligence-driven raids to deny criminal networks freedom of action in the area.