The Nigerian Navy has reported major strides in its ongoing fight against crude oil theft and maritime crimes, announcing the recovery of over 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of 18 suspects within the first quarter of 2026.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Navy’s spokesperson, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, who highlighted that the achievements were recorded during more than 183 operations conducted across key operational areas under Operation Delta Sentinel
Launched on January 13, 2026, the operation was designed to enhance maritime security and curb oil theft in the Niger Delta. It replaced the earlier Operation Delta Sanity and features improved surveillance systems, stronger intelligence coordination, and a structured quarterly review framework, with an initial one-year mandate.
According to the Navy, February recorded the highest volume of recovered products at 360,700 litres, followed by 118,800 litres in January and 52,000 litres in March, reflecting sustained pressure on illegal oil activities.
The statement further outlined several notable operational breakthroughs during the period. These include the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Rivers State between January 20 and 23, the interception of an 18-tonne barge in February, and the discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State. In March, operatives also recovered 34,000 litres of petroleum products in separate operations.
Operations intensified across Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa States, with targeted raids in areas such as Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River, and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis leading to significant recoveries. Among these, about 45,000 litres of crude oil were recovered at Alakiri River, while 44,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil were intercepted at Ogbologo, alongside the arrest of eight suspects.
Additional operations yielded recoveries ranging from 4,000 to over 21,000 litres per location. Security forces also uncovered and dismantled illegal wellheads, storage reservoirs, and pipeline connections used for siphoning crude oil.
In total, the Navy reported the destruction of at least 22 illegal refining sites, four storage facilities, three vessels or boats, and two illegal wellhead or pipeline connections.
The service noted that there has been a gradual decline in the estimated market value of seized products, suggesting that sustained enforcement efforts are weakening the profitability of illicit oil operations.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Navy stated it will continue to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain, protect critical national assets, and support increased oil production in line with national economic objectives. It also pledged to sustain intelligence-driven operations and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to further dismantle oil theft networks.
