In a renewed offensive against crude oil theft and environmental degradation, the Nigerian Navy has dismantled eight illegal refining sites in the creeks of the Niger Delta, seizing over 16,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,650 litres of illegally refined diesel.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos under Operation Delta Sanity II and is part of a broader strategy to curb economic sabotage and boost Nigeria’s oil production.
Speaking to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday, Commanding Officer Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu described the seizures as part of a sustained clampdown on criminal networks plundering national resources.
“In total, the three operations led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites,” Okoloagu said. “The confiscated materials were hidden across two makeshift ovens, 43 dugout pits, and 18 polythene sacks.”
The Navy detailed a timeline of the operations:
May 14, 2025: Two illegal refineries were uncovered at Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West LGA, where officers recovered 5,625 litres of stolen crude oil stored in one oven and 17 pits.
May 19, 2025: A further three sites were dismantled in the same area, yielding 2,500 litres of crude oil and 1,650 litres of refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
May 26, 2025: Three additional illegal refineries were raided at Oteghele, also in Obodo Omadino, uncovering 7,915 litres of crude concealed in 21 dugout pits.
Okoloagu emphasized that the success of the operations was driven by credible intelligence and aligns with the Nigerian Navy’s strategic directive under Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
“FOB Escravos remains unwavering in its mandate to disrupt economic saboteurs and secure Nigeria’s maritime environment. We are determined to ensure the nation fully benefits from its oil wealth,” Okoloagu added.
The Niger Delta region has long struggled with illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining, which not only rob the country of billions in revenue annually but also wreak havoc on its fragile ecosystem. With oil theft threatening national production quotas, the government has ramped up enforcement operations in recent months.
