Troops Find Illegal Refinery in Rivers State Forest

Troops of the Joint Task Force South‑South, operating under Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), uncovered an illegal crude oil refining site in the Orashi National Forest, located in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The discovery was announced on X on Friday by Zagazola Makama, a counter‑insurgency and security expert who works in the Lake Chad region.

According to military sources, the site was found on June 3 during a coordinated anti‑illegal bunkering operation involving units from the 16 Brigade, the Garrison, and the 5 Battalion.

Troops reported locating the site deep within the forest reserve and recovering equipment used for crude oil processing. The seized items included two large drum ovens, two coolant systems, two receiver containers, two waste pits, and a galvanized pipeline approximately 100 metres in length.

Military officials said the location was being used for illicit petroleum refining activities. The recovered equipment was handled in accordance with the operational procedures of Operation Delta Safe.

The operation is part of the military’s ongoing campaign to combat crude oil theft, dismantle illegal refining camps, and protect critical oil infrastructure throughout the Niger Delta.

Security authorities emphasized that anti‑bunkering operations remain essential for mitigating the economic losses and environmental damage caused by illegal oil activities in the region. They added that surveillance and clearance missions will continue as troops intensify efforts to locate and dismantle other suspected illegal refining sites.