The Nigerian Navy has recorded major operational gains under Operation Delta Sentinel, disrupting large-scale crude oil theft and illegal refining activities valued at billions of naira across the Niger Delta.
Leading the offensive, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Pathfinder, conducted intelligence-driven operations in Rivers State, targeting entrenched networks involved in illicit petroleum production and storage.
Acting on credible intelligence, anti-crude oil theft patrol teams were deployed to the Ndoni/Egbema axis, where a major illegal refining site was uncovered in Umoku, Ndoni. The site featured multiple dugout pits and locally fabricated refining ovens used for processing stolen crude oil.
Operational assessment revealed approximately 708,000 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil and Dual Purpose Kerosene, as well as about 310,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil stored in pits. The recovered products were estimated at over ₦1.06 billion for refined products and about ₦288 million for crude oil. Suspected operators fled upon sighting naval personnel, while the products were handled in line with established procedures.
In a related operation, personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, supported by naval air assets, uncovered and dismantled multiple illegal crude oil storage sites in Allison Community, Bonny Local Government Area. The operation led to the recovery of about 231,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil valued at over ₦215 million, concealed in dugout pits and linked to nearby waterways through improvised distribution systems.
The Navy noted that these operations build on earlier successes recorded between January and March 2026, during which more than 457,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined products—valued at over ₦600 million—were recovered, alongside the destruction of several illegal refining sites and logistics hubs across the region.
Maritime interdictions have further strengthened the campaign. The arrest of three vessels—Motor Tankers MKPODU, WESTAF and STELIOS K—led to the seizure of over 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil, equivalent to approximately 1.04 million litres and valued at over ₦967 million.
The Navy said the coordinated inland and maritime operations reflect a deliberate multi-domain strategy aimed at dismantling the entire crude oil theft value chain and safeguarding Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
In response to the sustained operational successes, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, has approved a 90-day extension of Operation Delta Sentinel to maintain pressure on economic saboteurs.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protecting national assets and ensuring the security of Nigeria’s economic interests.
