The Nigerian Navy has intensified its anti-oil theft operations as Navy dismantles illegal refineries across the Niger Delta, leading to the recovery of 531,500 litres of stolen crude and refined petroleum products.
The latest development comes under Operation Delta Sentinel, a maritime security initiative launched to combat crude oil theft and protect Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
According to the Navy, the operation replaced Operation Delta Sanity II and introduced enhanced surveillance systems, improved intelligence coordination, and structured quarterly reviews to strengthen enforcement efforts.
Providing details, the Nigerian Navy said the Navy dismantles illegal refineries during over 183 successful operations conducted between January and March 2026.
The operations resulted in:
Recovery of 531,500 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products, Arrest of 18 suspects linked to oil theft and maritime crimes, Destruction of 12 illegal refinery sites, Demolition of 4 storage facilities, Seizure of 3 vessels/boats, Removal of 2 illegal wellhead or pipeline connections
Monthly data showed that February recorded the highest recovery volume at 360,700 litres, followed by 118,800 litres in January and 52,000 litres in March, indicating sustained pressure on illegal refining activities.
Further operational highlights revealed how the Navy dismantles illegal refineries through targeted actions across multiple states:
- 45,000 litres of stolen products seized in Rivers State between January 20 and 23
- Interception of an 18-tonne barge in February
- Discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State
- Recovery of 34,000 litres of petroleum products in March
Additional operations in Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states led to recoveries ranging from 4,000 to over 21,000 litres per location, alongside the dismantling of illegal refining infrastructure.
The continued success as the Navy dismantles illegal refineries signals intensified enforcement against crude oil theft, a major economic challenge in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
The Navy noted a gradual decline in the estimated market value of recovered products, suggesting that sustained operations are weakening the profitability of illegal oil activities.
Experts say such operations are critical to improving national oil output, safeguarding revenue, and protecting the environment from damage caused by illegal refining.
