The Nigerian Navy has dismantled 22 illegal refineries and arrested 18 suspects in an intensifying campaign against crude oil theft across the Niger Delta region during the first quarter of 2026. The operation, designated Operation Delta Sentinel and launched on 13 January 2026, succeeded Operation Delta Sanity II and has targeted criminal networks responsible for siphoning crude oil from production lines and refining it illegally in remote creek locations.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, the navy executed more than 183 successful operations between January and March 2026, focusing on identified hotspots across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states. The sustained pressure yielded the recovery of 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, though officials acknowledge that illicit oil activities persist across the region's intricate network of creeks and coastal corridors.
Monthly Recovery Breakdown
Operational data reveals that February 2026 recorded the highest seizure volumes at 360,700 litres, followed by January with 118,800 litres and March with 52,000 litres. The distribution of recovered volumes underscores the persistent challenge faced by naval forces in disrupting criminal supply chains that remain entrenched in the delta's difficult terrain.
Among the major operational milestones during the period was the interception of 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Rivers State between 20 and 23 January 2026. On 13 February 2026, naval operatives seized an 18-tonne barge believed to have been deployed for large-scale crude transportation across the waterways.
Key Seizures and Discoveries
In Bayelsa State, naval units uncovered a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead on 23 February 2026, identified as one of the principal theft points supplying illicit refining clusters in the area. The discovery highlighted the sophisticated infrastructure that criminal networks have established to facilitate ongoing oil theft operations.
Operations intensified through March across multiple locations including Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis, where coordinated raids led to substantial recoveries of stolen crude and refined products. On 14 March 2026, approximately 45,000 litres of crude oil were recovered at Alakiri River, while on 21 March, 44,000 litres of automotive gas oil (diesel) were intercepted at Ogbologo alongside the arrest of eight suspects.
Naval units also discovered and dismantled illegal pipelines, reservoirs and makeshift storage facilities designed for siphoning crude oil from production lines. Additional seizures throughout the quarter ranged from 4,000 litres to more than 21,000 litres per location.
Broader Maritime Security Context
Commodore Folorunsho stated that the operation has been executed through enhanced surveillance, intelligence-led interventions and coordinated inter-agency efforts aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks. The approach combines maritime domain awareness with targeted raids on infrastructure identified through intelligence gathering.
Following the quarter's operations, a significant post-quarter development occurred in Calabar, Cross River State, where naval personnel arrested three vessels suspected of conveying stolen crude oil, indicating that enforcement efforts continue to expand beyond the initial operational zone.
Despite the significant seizures and arrests, authorities acknowledge that oil theft activities have not been completely halted, with incidents continuing across creeks and coastal corridors. The resilience of criminal networks operating in the region suggests that sustained pressure and inter-agency cooperation will remain essential components of the government's strategy to protect Nigeria's oil infrastructure.