The Nigerian Navy has reported that it has successfully conducted over 183 successful operations across key operational areas in the country. These operation, according to the arm of the military, resulted 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.
ENigeria Newspaper gathered this when the Navy, through its Operation Delta Sanity II, which was launched on 13 January 2026 to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta, reported that it destroyed 12 illegal refinery sites, 4 storage facilities, 3 vessels/boats, and 2 wellhead or pipeline connections.
“The operation which replaced Operation Delta Sanity II, incorporates enhanced surveillance, improved intelligence coordination, and a structured quarterly review mechanism, with an initial duration of one year”, Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said.
“In the First Quarter of 2026 (January – March 2026), 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.
The director further explained that, during this period, however, several major operational milestones were achieved.
“These include the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen products in Rivers State between 20 and 23 January 2026, 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.”
According to Folorunsho, activities in the Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa increased in March, especially in the areas of Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River, and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis.
“Notably, approximately 45,000 litres of crude oil were recovered at Alakiri River on 14 March 2026, while 44,000 litres of AGO were intercepted at Ogbologo on 21 March 2026, along with the arrest of 8 suspects.
“Additional operations recovered quantities ranging from 4,000 litres to over 21,000 litres per location, and discovered and dismantled illegal wellheads, reservoirs, and pipeline connections used for siphoning crude oil.
“Throughout the quarter, the Nigerian Navy systematically targeted and dismantled illegal oil infrastructure, including illegal refinery sites, storage facilities, vessels, and pipeline connections.
“In total, at least 12 illegal refinery sites, 4 storage facilities, 3 vessels/boats, and 2 wellhead or pipeline connections were destroyed.
“There was also a gradual decline in the estimated market value of recovered products, indicating that sustained naval operations are progressively disrupting the economic viability of these illegal activities.
“The Service remains resolute in its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain, protecting vital national assets, and increasing oil production to support of national economic goals, in line with the vision of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
“The Nigerian Navy will continue to conduct intelligence-led operations and strengthen inter-agency cooperation to further degrade oil theft networks within the Nigerian Maritime Environment.”
The Nigeria Navy’s reports reflect that oil theft still persists despite the federal government’s concentration of the security of Nigerian pipelines in the hands of Niger Delta Tompolo’s Tantita security outfit. Despite calls for decentralization of the pipeline surveillance, the National Assembly gave a backing to continuing surveillance of the pipelines.
