The Nigerian Navy has intensified its offensive against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling three reactivated illegal refining sites and recovering about 61,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products during a fresh operation in Rivers State.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation was conducted by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER under Operation DELTA SENTINEL within the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni axis of Rivers State.
The statement said the operation led to the discovery and deactivation of three newly established illegal refining sites linked to crude oil theft, underscoring the Navy’s sustained campaign against economic sabotage in the country’s oil-producing region.
During the raid, naval personnel recovered approximately 43,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and 18,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) concealed in 12 dugout pits and reservoirs, bringing the total volume of recovered petroleum products to 61,000 litres.
The Navy noted that the latest operation highlights the persistent efforts of criminal syndicates to revive illegal refining activities despite ongoing enforcement operations. It recalled that similar illegal refining infrastructure had been dismantled in the same area in July 2026, indicating continued attempts by oil theft networks to re-establish their operations.
The statement added that by maintaining sustained operational pressure across identified hotspots, the Navy has continued to deny economic saboteurs the opportunity to rebuild their networks while protecting critical national assets and supporting the Federal Government’s drive to increase oil production and strengthen economic security.
Reaffirming its commitment to combating crude oil theft, the Nigerian Navy said it would continue intelligence-driven operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL to dismantle illegal refining infrastructure, disrupt crude oil theft networks and safeguard Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.
