Nigerian Navy Dismantles 22 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 18

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling 22 illegal refineries and arresting 18 suspects. The operation, named Delta Sentinel, commenced on January 13, 2026, and aimed to disrupt multiple storage and distribution channels used by oil thieves.

Between January and March 2026, the Navy conducted 183 successful operations, recovering a total of 531,500 liters of illegal refined petroleum products. February recorded the highest seizure volume of 360,700 liters, followed by 118,800 liters in January and 52,000 liters in March.

Significant operations included the interception of 45,000 liters of stolen petroleum in River State and the discovery of a 96,000-liter illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State. Despite these efforts, illegal oil activities persist in the region, highlighting the resilience of criminal networks.

The Navy's ongoing operations reflect its commitment to degrading oil theft in Nigeria.