By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its campaign against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, successfully dismantling four illegal refining sites and recovering an estimated 77,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
The operation, conducted on May 31, 2026, was carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH under the ongoing **Operation DELTA SENTINEL**, a strategic anti-crude oil theft initiative aimed at curbing economic sabotage and protecting Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Naval Information, Captain AA Folorunsho, the operation followed credible intelligence indicating renewed activities by illegal refiners in the Egboama/Ogbogolo axis of Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, naval personnel deployed a combination of aerial surveillance assets and riverine mobility platforms to navigate the difficult creek terrain and verify the reports. Drone reconnaissance conducted during the operation identified several concealed illegal refining locations scattered across the area.
Subsequent exploitation of the sites led to the discovery of four illegal refining camps equipped with refining ovens, dugout pits and storage facilities. Authorities estimated that approximately 77,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil were being processed or stored at the locations.
Investigations at the sites revealed that criminal syndicates were attempting to revive refining infrastructure that had been dismantled during previous enforcement operations. The findings suggest a persistent effort by oil theft networks to re-establish illicit operations despite ongoing security crackdowns.
The Navy said the operation resulted in the destruction and deactivation of four illegal refining sites, including three refining ovens, two dugout pits and a reservoir used to facilitate illegal refining activities.
Security officials described the development as further evidence of the resilience of crude oil theft syndicates operating in the Niger Delta and their determination to continue illicit activities despite repeated interventions by security agencies.
However, the Navy noted that the successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance and rapid-response capabilities deployed under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
“All identified sites and products were handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, denying criminal elements access to resources intended to sustain economic sabotage,” the statement said.
Crude oil theft and illegal refining remain major challenges in the Niger Delta, contributing to environmental degradation, revenue losses and damage to critical national infrastructure. Security agencies have repeatedly intensified operations across the region to dismantle illegal refining networks and curb the theft of petroleum resources.
The Nigerian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining pressure on criminal elements involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining, stressing that intelligence-led operations would continue across the Niger Delta to protect national assets and safeguard Nigeria’s economic interests.
The latest operation adds to a series of recent enforcement actions by security agencies targeting illegal refining activities in Rivers State and other oil-producing communities across the Niger Delta, underscoring ongoing efforts to reduce oil theft and strengthen the country’s energy security.
