By Esther Ososanya
The Nigerian Navy dismantled more than 71 illegal refinery sites and seized over 411,000 litres of stolen crude oil in July 2025. These actions came under Operation Delta Sanity, its major anti-crude-theft mission across the Niger Delta.
Launched in December 2024, the operation continues to yield strong results. The Navy intercepted smuggling vessels, storage pits, and underground reservoirs in a wide-reaching offensive across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.
According to its July report, the Navy uncovered one of its largest illegal operations on 22 and 23 July in Biseni, Bayelsa State. Officers seized over 450,000 litres of crude oil and illegally refined products.
Earlier, on 4 July, they shut down six refinery sites in Ogba, Egbema, and Ndoni areas of Rivers State. These sites held more than 106,000 litres of crude and refined products. The Navy also dismantled ovens, pumping machines, and underground storage facilities.
On 14 July, Navy patrol teams arrested three suspected smugglers in Akwa Ibom State. The men were transporting 2,500 litres of PMS in a wooden boat bound for Cameroon. That same day, another group were caught with similar quantities of smuggled fuel near river entrances.
Staggering Losses for Oil Thieves
The operation in July denied oil thieves access to:
- 411,400 litres of crude oil
- 87,825 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)
- 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK)
- 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
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Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, said the Navy remains committed to ending illegal refining and crude theft.
“These results prove our readiness and dedication to protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain,” said Navy spokesperson Commodore A. Adams-Aliu.
Notably, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported a boost in national oil production to over 1.8 million barrels per day, an improvement linked to these operations.
The Navy pledged to maintain pressure on oil thieves through intelligence-driven patrols and collaboration with other security agencies. It aims to secure Nigeria’s maritime economy and prevent further environmental damage.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
