By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Nigerian Navy says it recorded major operational successes in the second quarter of Operation DELTA SENTINEL, recovering more than 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products while sustaining pressure on criminal networks operating across the Niger Delta.
The Service said the intensified operations, conducted between April and June 2026, coincided with Nigeria’s crude oil production rising to 1.735 million barrels per day in June, representing 104 per cent of the country’s OPEC production quota and the highest production level since April 2020, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
In a statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Navy disclosed that it carried out more than 580 intelligence-driven operations across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Lagos states during the period.
According to the statement, the operations led to the recovery of over 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, the arrest of more than 91 suspects linked to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, militancy and related crimes, and the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites.
The Navy also intercepted several vessels allegedly involved in crude oil theft and dismantled logistics networks supporting economic sabotage.
Among the notable successes recorded were the arrest of the motor tankers MKPODU, WESTAF and STELIOS K, which were allegedly involved in the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil.
Security operatives also recovered over 708,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and 310,000 litres of stolen crude oil from a single illegal refining site in Ndoni, Rivers State.
The statement added that coordinated riverine operations resulted in the destruction of illegal refining camps, reservoirs, storage facilities, concealed fuel dumps, pipeline connections and militant hideouts, while preventing criminal syndicates from reactivating previously dismantled refining sites.
The Navy noted that the sustained operations had significantly disrupted illicit petroleum supply chains and strengthened the security of critical oil and gas infrastructure, contributing to the country’s improved crude oil production.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain, the Service said it would continue intelligence-led operations and strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to dismantle crude oil theft networks.
It also pledged continued support for the Federal Government’s target of increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
