The Nigerian Navy has recorded a significant operational breakthrough under Operation Delta Sentinel, dismantling an extensive illegal oil refining and storage network spread across Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states in a sweeping crackdown valued at over ₦600 million.
The coordinated operations, executed on April 17, 2026, underscored the Navy’s renewed offensive against crude oil theft and economic sabotage, targeting entrenched criminal infrastructure across multiple operational corridors in the Niger Delta.
In Rivers State, naval personnel attached to Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH launched a precision deployment along the Rivers Bayelsa boundary, focusing on the Egboama and Ogbogolo axis in Ahoada West Local Government Area following credible intelligence.
Despite the swampy terrain and logistical challenges, the anti crude oil theft team carried out a synchronised land and water assault, exposing a network of illegal refining camps concealed within the creeks.
The operation led to the discovery of multiple refining installations, including dugout pits, makeshift ovens, reservoirs and storage units used for sustained illicit petroleum processing activities.
A detailed assessment revealed approximately 103,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil alongside 190,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, pointing to the scale and sophistication of the dismantled operation.
Using prevailing market estimates, the crude oil haul was valued at over ₦91 million, while the refined products were estimated at more than ₦342 million, bringing the total value of seizures in the Rivers axis alone to over ₦433 million.
In a related offensive in Delta State, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA uncovered a concealed crude oil storage facility at Bennett Island, linked to a buried pipeline system fitted with improvised hoses for siphoning.
The site contained about 78,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil valued at approximately ₦69 million, further exposing the interconnected web of illegal bunkering activities operating across state lines.
All illegal installations were dismantled on site in line with operational protocols, while suspects fled upon sighting naval operatives, reinforcing the urgency of sustained surveillance and rapid response.
Commending the operation, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, tasked the Commander Task Group, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, to intensify the offensive and ensure the complete dismantling of criminal syndicates threatening the nation’s economic lifelines.