Nigerian Navy Seizes 531,500 Litres of Illegally Refined Oil

Between January and March 2026, the Nigerian Navy successfully recovered 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and arrested 18 suspects as part of its operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta. According to Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the Director of Naval Information, these operations were launched on January 13, 2026, under the Delta Sentinel initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security.

The Navy conducted 183 successful operations during this period, with February recording the highest recovery of 360,700 litres. Significant recoveries included 45,000 litres of stolen products in River State and the discovery of 96,000 litres at an illegal wellhead in Bayelsa State.

The Navy also destroyed 12 illegal refinery sites and disrupted the supply chain of illicit oil activities. Vice Admiral Idi Abba, the Chief of Naval Staff, emphasized the Navy's commitment to safeguarding maritime domains and dismantling oil theft networks through intelligence-driven operations.