The Nigerian Navy says it has recorded major operational breakthroughs under Operation Delta Sentinel, with sustained multi-domain offensives targeting crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the Niger Delta.
According to a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Olugbode Folorunsho, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder led a series of intelligence-driven raids that disrupted large-scale illegal refining and crude storage networks in Rivers State, with products and infrastructure valued in billions of naira.
Acting on credible intelligence, naval personnel deployed anti–crude oil theft patrol teams to the Ndoni/Egbema axis, where a major illegal refining site was uncovered at Umoku in Ndoni. The site contained multiple dugout pits and makeshift refining ovens used for processing stolen crude.
The Navy said about 708,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and Dual Purpose Kerosene, as well as 310,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, were discovered at the location. The combined value of the seizure was estimated at over ₦1.3 billion. Suspected operators fled upon sighting naval patrols.
In a separate operation, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, supported by naval air assets, dismantled additional illegal storage facilities in Allison Community, Bonny Local Government Area. The operation led to the recovery of approximately 231,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, valued at over ₦215 million, concealed in dugout pits and linked to improvised pipeline networks.
The Navy said these latest operations build on earlier gains recorded between January and March 2026, during which more than 457,000 litres of stolen crude and illegally refined products—worth over ₦600 million—were recovered, alongside the destruction of several illegal refining sites across the region.
Maritime interdictions have also complemented inland operations. The Navy recently intercepted three vessels—MT MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K—allegedly conveying over 900 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil, equivalent to about 1.04 million litres valued at nearly ₦967 million.
According to the Navy, the combined inland and maritime operations reflect a coordinated multi-domain strategy aimed at dismantling the entire crude oil theft value chain, from production sites to offshore evacuation routes.
In response to the sustained operational pressure, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved a 90-day extension of Operation Delta Sentinel to further consolidate gains and intensify the crackdown on economic saboteurs.
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to protecting critical national oil infrastructure and safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests through sustained maritime and inland security operations.
