By Philip Nwosu
In a major stride towards combating crude oil theft and environmental degradation, the Nigerian Navy has announced the deactivation of 71 illegal refinery sites and the seizure of over 590,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta.
The operation, which falls under the ongoing security initiative tagged Operation Delta Sanity, underscores the Navy’s intensified campaign against economic sabotage in the nation’s oil-rich region.
The announcement was made through a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who detailed the operations carried out between July 12 and July 28, 2025.
Cdre Adams-Aliu said the Nigerian Navy has sustained its efforts in dismantling illegal refining infrastructure and intercepting oil thieves, particularly in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States. The Navy said the coordinated raids resulted in the deactivation of no fewer than 120 dugout pits and multiple illegal storage reservoirs used to process and store stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products.
“In total, over 71 illegal refinery sites were deactivated,” Commodore Adams-Aliu said. “Furthermore, oil thieves were denied about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”
In Rivers State, six illegal refinery sites were uncovered in Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni communities. The sites reportedly contained 40 dugout pits filled with approximately 66,000 litres of suspected crude oil and 30 surface reservoirs storing about 40,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
The Navy also carried out extensive operations in Delta State, particularly in Otegele, Obodo Omadino, Ugbokodo, Bennet Island, and Oteghele communities. A site in Otegele was discovered with 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil, while Obodo Omadino yielded an underground storage facility with 7,000 litres of crude. Another raid in Oteghele led to the seizure of 20,000 litres of illegally sourced crude oil.
Commodore Adams-Aliu said these operations were carried out with tactical precision, leveraging intelligence and community engagement to identify and neutralise illicit refinery camps that are often hidden in difficult terrain or swampy environments.
A significant breakthrough was recorded in Biseni community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where naval personnel uncovered a large pond containing over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil. This single seizure represents one of the largest volumes confiscated in a single site during recent anti-bunkering operations.
In addition to the pond, other illegal refining facilities and transit storage tanks were dismantled in the vicinity. The Navy said these actions would help curtail the further degradation of the environment and prevent continued loss of national revenue.
The Navy also reported the arrest of six suspected petroleum smugglers during separate operations in Akwa Ibom State. The suspects were intercepted in wooden boats along the Effiat waterways while allegedly attempting to transport over 5,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Cameroon.
“This illegal trans-border smuggling of petroleum products not only impacts Nigeria’s economy but also violates national security regulations,” the Navy said.
The arrest of the smugglers and confiscation of the products have been handed over to appropriate agencies for further investigation and prosecution.
The Nigerian Navy has reiterated its unwavering commitment to securing the nation’s maritime domain and combating all forms of illegal activity at sea and within the creeks and riverine areas.
“These significant successes underscore the resilience of the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to completely eradicate crude oil theft and contribute to improving Nigeria’s oil production,” Commodore Adams-Aliu said.
He further cited confirmation by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that Nigeria’s oil production recently exceeded 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd), attributing part of the improvement to sustained maritime security efforts by the Navy.
Illegal refining operations in the Niger Delta have long been associated with environmental pollution, health hazards, and loss of biodiversity. They are also responsible for millions of dollars in revenue losses to the government due to crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The Navy’s operations are therefore not only security-driven but also environmentally conscious, as the deactivation of illegal sites contributes to the restoration of ecosystems in areas ravaged by oil spills and chemical waste from makeshift refineries.
Maritime experts and stakeholders have welcomed the recent success of Operation Delta Sanity, praising the Navy for its proactive and intelligence-led approach in dismantling entrenched criminal networks in the oil sector.
The Nigerian Navy called on communities within the Niger Delta region to support ongoing efforts by providing timely information about suspicious activities. It also urged local leaders, civil society organisations, and the media to collaborate in educating residents on the long-term dangers posed by illegal refining.
“This fight requires the collective effort of all stakeholders,” Commodore Adams-Aliu emphasised. “Security agencies, government at all levels, community leaders, and the general public must work together to ensure that the country’s maritime domain is safe, productive, and environmentally secure.”
With the relaunch of Operation Delta Sanity in 2024, the Navy has achieved major operational milestones. In the coming months, it plans to deepen surveillance, increase patrol frequency in critical hotspots, and deploy additional technology such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and maritime domain awareness systems.
Naval authorities affirmed that more illegal refining hubs would be targeted and that offenders will face the full weight of the law.
“Operation Delta Sanity will continue to evolve as a dynamic campaign,” Commodore Adams-Aliu concluded. “Our objective remains clear—to deny criminals the freedom to operate and ensure Nigeria’s oil and maritime assets are protected for the benefit of all citizens.”
