The Nigerian Navy has intensified its war against crude oil theft, recording major breakthroughs under Operation Delta Sentinel with the recovery of petroleum products worth over ₦2 billion and the dismantling of multiple illegal refining networks in the Niger Delta.
In a statement issued on April 15, 2026, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations—anchored by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder—were driven by credible intelligence and executed across both inland and maritime domains.
At Umoku in Ndoni, Rivers State, naval patrol teams uncovered a large-scale illegal refining site equipped with several dugout pits and locally fabricated ovens used to process stolen crude oil. The raid led to the discovery of about 708,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil and Dual Purpose Kerosene, alongside 310,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil.
The Navy estimated the value of the refined products at over ₦1.06 billion, while the crude oil was put at approximately ₦288 million. Suspected operators reportedly fled on sighting naval personnel, leaving behind the illicit facilities which were handled in line with operational guidelines.
In a related operation, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, supported by naval air assets, uncovered and deactivated several illegal crude oil storage sites in Allison Community, Bonny Local Government Area. About 231,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, valued at over ₦215 million, were recovered from concealed dugout pits connected to improvised distribution systems.
The Navy said the latest successes build on earlier gains recorded between January and March 2026, during which more than 457,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products worth over ₦600 million were recovered, alongside the destruction of numerous illegal refining sites and supply networks.
Maritime operations also yielded significant results, with the arrest of three vessels Motor Tankers MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K laden with over 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil. The cargo is estimated at approximately 1.04 million litres with a value exceeding ₦967 million.
Describing the operations as a coordinated multi-domain offensive, the Navy said the strategy is designed to dismantle the entire value chain of crude oil theft from illegal refining hubs to maritime transportation routes.
Meanwhile, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved a 90-day extension of Operation Delta Sentinel to sustain operational momentum and intensify pressure on economic saboteurs.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s critical oil infrastructure and safeguarding national revenue, vowing to maintain relentless action against criminal networks operating in the sector.
