The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, frustrating renewed attempts by criminal syndicates to re-establish illegal refining networks in Rivers and Delta states.
The operations were carried out by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER and NNS DELTA under Operation DELTA SENTINEL during sustained anti-crude oil theft patrols across the region.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, personnel of NNS PATHFINDER thwarted attempts by oil thieves to revive a major illegal refining network in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Folorunsho said the operation followed actionable intelligence which led naval personnel to identified locations around Egbema where criminal elements had reportedly resumed activities at illegal refining sites previously dismantled during earlier operations.
He disclosed that subsequent exploitation of the area confirmed the reactivation of three illegal refining sites supported by an extensive network of 13 dugout pits.
“Across the sites, personnel discovered about 260,000 litres of products suspected to be crude oil and about 405,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), indicating a significant attempt to restore production capacity within the area,” he said.
The naval spokesman added that preliminary findings revealed that the operators continued to exploit crude oil sourced from an abandoned wellhead in the area, demonstrating the persistence of criminal networks in adapting dormant infrastructure for illicit activities.
In a related development, personnel of NNS DELTA also uncovered and neutralised multiple crude oil staging sites concealed within creek networks in Delta State as part of ongoing intelligence-led operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining and pipeline vandalism.
Acting on credible intelligence supported by maritime patrol assets and aerial surveillance, naval personnel conducted targeted operations across Madangho Creek and the Ogbe-Ijaw axis, both identified as suspected transit and staging locations for stolen crude oil.
During the operations, troops uncovered a network of facilities and materials linked to crude oil theft activities, including three reservoirs, a hose line, 16 sacks and several cellophane bags suspected to be used for the storage and transportation of stolen crude oil.
Cumulatively, about 6,500 litres of products suspected to be crude oil were recovered from the sites.
Folorunsho said the discoveries revealed a coordinated logistics arrangement designed to temporarily aggregate and move stolen crude oil through remote creek channels while evading detection by security agencies.
He noted that the illegal refining sites, dugout pits, reservoirs and recovered products were handled in line with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively denying criminal elements access to resources intended to sustain illicit operations.
According to him, the operations underscore the Nigerian Navy’s sustained focus on dismantling the logistics, storage and transportation architecture that underpins crude oil theft across the Niger Delta.
He stated that by targeting staging locations and supply nodes, Operation DELTA SENTINEL continues to degrade the operational capacity of economic saboteurs and restrict their freedom of action within the region.
“The Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation DELTA SENTINEL aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding the economic interests of the nation,” he added.
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