No fewer than 22 illegal refineries were dismantled as the Nigerian Navy intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, disrupting multiple storage and distribution channels used by oil thieves in the first quarter of 2026. The operations, conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel, also led to the recovery of 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation, which commenced on 13 January 2026, replaced Operation Delta Sanity II and is being executed through enhanced surveillance, intelligence-led interventions and coordinated inter-agency efforts aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks across the Niger Delta creeks and waterways.
According to operational data released by Folorunsho, the navy carried out over 183 successful operations between January and March 2026, targeting identified hotspots across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, where illegal refining activities remain prevalent despite sustained military pressure.
A breakdown of recovered volumes shows that February recorded the highest seizure with 360,700 litres, followed by January with 118,800 litres and March with 52,000 litres, indicating persistent illegal activity across the region. Key operational breakthroughs during the period included the interception of 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Rivers State between 20 and 23 January, as well as the seizure of an 18-tonne barge on 13 February, believed to have been used for large-scale crude transportation.
In Bayelsa State, naval operatives uncovered a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead on 23 February, described as one of the major theft points feeding illicit refining clusters in the area. Further operations in March intensified across multiple locations, including Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis, where coordinated raids led to the recovery of substantial volumes of stolen crude and refined products.
In one of the major March operations, about 45,000 litres of crude oil were recovered at Alakiri River on 14 March, while 44,000 litres of automotive gas oil (diesel) were intercepted at Ogbologo on 21 March, alongside the arrest of eight suspects. “In the First Quarter of 2026 (January-March 2026), the Nigerian Navy, through Operational Delta Sentinel, conducted over 183 successful operations across key operational areas, resulting in the recovery of 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and related maritime crimes.
Monthly operational data shows that February recorded the highest recovery volume with 360,700 litres, followed by 118,800 litres in January and 52,000 litres in March, indicating ongoing pressure on illicit oil activities. During this period, several major operational milestones were achieved.
These include the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen products in Rivers State between January 20 and 23; the interception of an 18-tonne barge on 13 February 2026; the discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State on 23 February 2026; and the recovery of 34,000 litres of various petroleum products on 5 March 2026.
These successes demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s sustained operational reach and effectiveness across the maritime domain,” the report read. Related News Police recover AK-47 linked to abducted Rivers vigilante leader End oil theft permanently! Nigeria honours education icon, Prof Nduka, at 100 Additional seizures across the quarter ranged from 4,000 litres to over 21,000 litres per location, with naval units also discovering and dismantling illegal pipelines, reservoirs and makeshift storage facilities used for syphoning crude oil from production lines.
However, despite these operations, oil theft activities have not been completely halted, with incidents continuing across creeks and coastal corridors, underscoring the resilience of criminal networks operating in the region. A significant post-quarter development also occurred in Calabar, Cross River State, where naval personnel arrested three vessels suspected of conveying stolen crude oil.