By Philip Nwosu
In a sweeping crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining activities, the Nigerian Navy says it seized large quantities of stolen crude oil, intercepted arms shipments, and destroyed several illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta during its operations in March.
The Navy’s latest offensive, conducted under Operation Delta Sanity II, led to the arrest of vessels carrying illegal arms, the dismantling of multiple illegal refinery sites, and the confiscation of thousands of litres of stolen and illegally refined petroleum products.
The Spokesman for the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who disclosed the operations in a statement yesterday said the Navy’s month-long effort was aimed at curbing oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal arms trafficking in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to boost crude oil production and enhance national security.
According to the statement, troops on March 7 uncovered and destroyed an illegal refinery site at Oteghele community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The site contained approximately 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), as well as one oven, nine dugout pits, 15 polythene sacks of refined AGO, 13 sacks of crude oil, and a pumping machine.
On March 8, a large wooden boat loaded with 40,000 litres of crude oil was seized around Okrika and Ogajama, Rivers State, further highlighting the scale of illicit oil movement in the region.
The following day, March 9, operatives arrested a seagoing vessel identified as MFT Olokun VIII with IMO Registration No: 8778275 around Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State. The vessel was carrying illegal arms and ammunition, including one G3 rifle, one pump-action gun, 20 rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition, and seven live cartridges. Two suspects linked to the firearms were arrested and are set to face prosecution.
Continuing the momentum, on March 10, troops dismantled three illegal refinery sites around Obodo Omadino in Delta State. The sites contained three ovens, seven dugout pits, and eight sacks with 3,700 litres of crude oil, in addition to 23 polythene sacks holding 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO.
One of the largest hauls came on March 13, when naval personnel discovered a vandalized wellhead and eight illegal refinery sites around Ohaji/Egbema West in Rivers State. The operation yielded 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs, and 30 dugout pits filled with about 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 4,000 litres of refined AGO.
Further operations revealed the widespread nature of illegal refining in the Niger Delta. On March 14, two wooden boats laden with over 5,000 litres of crude oil and two drums were intercepted along the Dodo River in Bayelsa. The next day, March 15, a fibre boat with 1,000 litres of crude oil was seized around the Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers.
Troops returned to Obodo Omadino on March 17, where three more illegal refinery sites were dismantled. The sites housed two ovens, 10 dugout pits, and several sacks containing about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,900 litres of refined AGO.
On March 20, two wooden boats were caught siphoning crude oil directly from a wellhead in Clough Creek and Dodo River, Bayelsa State. Two drums of stolen crude oil and one cooking oven were seized in the operation.
Another significant operation occurred on March 23, with the Navy dismantling two illegal refinery sites containing two ovens, 10 dugout pits, 13 polythene sacks, and three drums filled with 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of refined AGO in Oteghele and Obodo Omadino.
On March 25, naval personnel intercepted a wooden boat laden with 1,500 litres of crude oil in the Bille/Krakrama creeks of Rivers State. That same week, another boat containing approximately 100,000 litres of crude oil was impounded near the Egbesan oilfield in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State.
Still in Rivers, a boat loaded with 30,000 litres of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was intercepted around the Okrika axis.
Culminating the month’s operations, troops on March 27 discovered and deactivated a suspected cultist and kidnappers’ camp, alongside four vandalized wellheads and eight illegal refining sites around Bigimi in Ilaje, Ondo State. The sites housed 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, 50 dugout pits, and large volumes of stolen crude oil—about 70,000 litres—as well as 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 15,000 litres of kerosene.
A nearby storage facility with 15 jerrycans (30 litres each) of illegally refined AGO was also uncovered during the same operation.
Commodore Adams-Aliu reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining pressure on economic saboteurs and protecting Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
“The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, reiterates that the Nigerian Navy will continue to intensify its operations in support of Nigeria’s economic activities, particularly the mandate to improve crude oil production as directed by President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
The Navy’s continued vigilance, he added, is key to preserving the integrity of the nation’s maritime domain and deterring criminal activity in the oil-rich region.