The Nigerian Navy says it recovered more than 457,000 litres of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products and dismantled 22 illegal refining sites in the first quarter of 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to curb oil theft in the Niger Delta.
Details released under Operation Delta Sentinel, the Navy’s anti crude oil theft initiative, show that the operations were conducted across key producing states including Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom between January and March.
According to the update, a total of 204,650 litres of crude oil was recovered during the period, alongside over 106,150 litres of illegally refined diesel, more than 138,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, petrol, 8,000 litres of kerosene, and about 700 litres of condensate.
The Navy also reported the arrest of 98 suspects linked to illegal refining and oil theft activities, while more than 98 dugout pits used for processing stolen crude were destroyed.
One of the major seizures during the period involved the vessel MV Amukpoye, intercepted on February 13 while carrying about 180 tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil, diesel. Eight individuals were taken into custody in connection with the vessel.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, stated that the service would continue to intensify enforcement operations aimed at eliminating crude oil theft and related activities across the region.
The volume of recovered products indicates the scale of illegal operations in the Niger Delta, where stolen crude is often processed through makeshift refining sites into usable fuels such as petrol, diesel, and kerosene for distribution within local markets.
Recent enforcement actions form part of a broader crackdown on oil theft. Earlier in April, naval authorities intercepted two vessels carrying 939 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude valued at over 4 billion naira, leading to the arrest of 26 crew members. In a separate operation in March, more than 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude were recovered and an illegal refining site dismantled in Rivers State.
Data from defence authorities also show that troops under Operation Delta Safe destroyed over 100 illegal refining sites and arrested more than 200 suspects within the same period, reflecting sustained pressure on illicit oil networks.
The continued operations highlight ongoing efforts by security agencies to disrupt crude oil theft, protect national revenue, and stabilise production activities in Nigeria’s oil rich Niger Delta.