No fewer than 22 illegal refineries were dismantled as the Nigerian Navy intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, disrupting multiple storage and distribution channels used by oil thieves in the first quarter of 2026.
The operations, conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel, also led to the recovery of 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
According to the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, the operation, which commenced on 13 January 2026, replaced Operation Delta Sanity II and is being executed through enhanced surveillance, intelligence-led interventions and coordinated inter-agency efforts aimed at dismantling illegal oil networks across the Niger Delta creeks and waterways.
According to operational data released by Folorunsho, the navy carried out over 183 successful operations between January and March 2026, targeting identified hotspots across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, where illegal refining activities remain prevalent despite sustained military pressure.
(Punch)
