The Nigerian Navy, operating under the ongoing *Operation Delta Sanity II*, has made significant strides in combating crude oil theft and illegal refining activities. In a statement released on Thursday, the Navy disclosed that its teams successfully discovered and destroyed several illegal refinery sites and seized approximately 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil in January alone.
These operations are part of the Navy’s sustained efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime domain and eliminate the persistent threat of oil theft, which has long plagued the country’s coastal regions. The Navy’s successes in January were hailed as a testament to their unwavering commitment to restoring order and ensuring the security of Nigeria’s waterways.
On January 6, Navy teams operating in the Krakrama general area of Rivers State intercepted two boats — one wooden and one fibre — which were loaded with about 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil. This marked one of the early successes of the month, signaling the Navy’s continued vigilance in the fight against oil theft.
The following day, January 7, proved equally productive when Navy teams uncovered a network of nine illegal refinery sites. They also seized 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil stored in four large tanks, along with an additional 1,400 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). This discovery was accompanied by the deactivation and seizure of two pumping machines and two locally fabricated wooden boats at the Obe-Nla riverine community in Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State.
The Navy’s operations continued to yield further results throughout January, with the seizure of a medium-sized wooden passenger/cargo boat on the 11th. The boat was found carrying six 250-litre drums filled with illegally refined petrol. During this period, five suspects were arrested in connection with these operations.
In addition to combatting oil theft, the Navy’s operations also targeted criminal elements linked to kidnapping and other illicit activities in the Niger Delta. On January 11, the Navy raided a militant camp in Opu-Okumbiri, located in the Akassa axis of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. During the raid, two suspected kidnappers were arrested and a range of dangerous items was recovered, including an AK 56 assault rifle, locally fabricated guns, pump action guns, and a significant amount of ammunition.
Other items seized included a foreign double-barrel gun, shotgun cartridges, and various personal documents belonging to the suspects, including National Identity Cards, debit cards, and mobile phones. These successful operations not only disrupted illegal oil activities but also dealt a blow to the wider network of criminal groups operating in the region.
The Navy’s operations in January also uncovered vandalized points along the Akaso well 14 and 17 flow lines, where a dugout pit was found to contain approximately 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil. These findings, combined with the destruction of several illegal refinery sites in key oil-producing states like Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo, and Delta, underscore the breadth of the Navy’s efforts to dismantle oil theft infrastructure.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, reiterated the Navy’s commitment to eradicating maritime crimes and ensuring the security of Nigeria’s waters. “These successful operations in January are a reflection of the Nigerian Navy’s resolute dedication to the fight against crude oil theft,” Ogalla stated. “We will continue to work assiduously to eradicate these criminal activities from our maritime domain.”
