The Nigerian Navy has recovered over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled an illegal refining site in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The development was disclosed on March 26 by Navy spokesperson, Commodore Abiodun Folorunsho, who detailed the operation carried out under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
According to the Navy, the operation led to the discovery and deactivation of an active illegal refining site located in Allison Community, alongside the recovery of large volumes of stolen crude oil.
“The Nigerian Navy recorded another operational success with the discovery and deactivation of an illegal refining site and recovery of over 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil,” the statement said, adding that the effort is part of ongoing moves to protect Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
The Navy explained that the breakthrough followed credible intelligence, which led to the deployment of an anti-crude oil theft patrol team from the Forward Operating Base in Bonny. The site was found to contain dugout pits, locally fabricated refining equipment, and sacks filled with suspected stolen crude, while suspects fled on sighting the patrol team.
The latest seizure comes days after a similar operation in Rivers State where about 44,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products were intercepted and eight suspects arrested, signalling intensified enforcement across key hotspots in the Niger Delta.
Crude oil theft remains a major challenge for Nigeria’s oil sector, significantly affecting production levels and government revenue. Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission shows losses dropped from 37.6 million barrels in 2021 to about 4.1 million barrels in 2024, although the figures remain substantial.
Recent operations indicate sustained progress, with the Navy dismantling over 800 illegal refineries and recovering about 171,000 barrels of stolen crude within two years, even as authorities continue to push towards higher production targets.