Nigerian Navy Recovers 2.25 Million Litres of Petroleum Products in Q3 Operations
The Nigerian Navy has recovered more than 2.25 million litres of petroleum products and arrested over 70 suspects during its third-quarter operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The operations, conducted from July to September 2026, also led to the rescue of 24 kidnapped persons, the seizure of four vessels and five boats, and the destruction of 14 boats linked to crude oil theft, according to the Navy.
The recovered products comprised 1,555,983 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 595,470 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 85,690 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 15,774 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene.
The Navy also deactivated 88 illegal refining sites, 363 dugout pits, 20 reservoirs and 80 storage tanks. Eight refining ovens were destroyed, while eight outboard engines, four firearms, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and seven vehicles or trucks were recovered from suspected criminal elements.
The Navy said the operations disrupted the infrastructure and logistics used by criminal networks to steal, process, store and transport illegally sourced petroleum products.
The third-quarter results build on gains recorded earlier in the year. During the first quarter, the Navy conducted more than 183 operations, recovered over 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and arrested 18 suspects.
In the second quarter, more than 580 intelligence-driven operations resulted in the recovery of over 4.698 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products. The operations also led to the arrest of more than 91 suspects and the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites.
Since Operation DELTA SENTINEL began in January 2026, the Navy said it had disrupted more than 241 illegal refining networks and sites, recovered over 7.482 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, and arrested more than 230 suspects.
The Navy noted that its sustained efforts to combat crude oil theft and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure were contributing to a more secure environment for legitimate petroleum production and evacuation.
It cited provisional Balance of Payments statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria, which showed that crude oil export earnings increased from $8.11 billion in the first quarter of 2026 to $9.39 billion in the second quarter, representing a 15.78 per cent rise. The Navy acknowledged that the improvement reflected the collective efforts of government agencies, regulators, industry operators, security agencies, host communities and other stakeholders.
Beyond arrests and seizures, the Service stressed the importance of successful prosecution to ensure that suspected offenders face appropriate legal consequences. It cited the recent conviction of nine crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as an example of the outcomes it seeks from enforcement operations.
The Navy called for faster investigations and diligent prosecution of suspects arrested for crude oil theft, illegal refining and economic sabotage, warning that delays could weaken deterrence and allow criminal networks to resume their activities.
Under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Navy said it would sustain intelligence-led operations and strengthen cooperation with host communities and other stakeholders to protect national assets and disrupt illicit petroleum activities.
The statement was signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information, Nigerian Navy.
Nigerian Navy Recovers 2.25 Million Litres of Petroleum Products in Q3 Operations