NAVY INTERCEPTS 400,000 LITRES OF STOLEN CRUDE IN DELTA OPERATION

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The Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity II recovered over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil across the Niger Delta in March 2025.

Additionally, the operation led to the dismantling of more than 30 illegal refinery sites and the arrest of several suspects involved in arms smuggling and oil bunkering.

In a statement on Friday, Navy spokesperson Commodore A. Adams-Aliu said the operation, spanning Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Ondo States, significantly disrupted the illegal oil trade threatening Nigeria’s economy and environment.

Among the key successes was the interception of a large wooden boat carrying approximately 100,000 litres of crude oil near the Egbessan oilfield in Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, on March 25.

Just two days later, on March 27, Adams-Aliu added that a massive bust around Ndoni, Ogba, Ohaji and Egbema West in Rivers State uncovered eight illegal refinery sites, four vandalised wellheads, 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, and 50 dugout pits, containing over 110,000 litres of various illegally refined products including AGO, kerosene, and crude oil.

“On Sunday 9 March 2025, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO Registration N0: 8778275 was arrested around Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State with illegal arms and ammunition onboard. The arms included 1 G3 Rifle, 1 pump action
gun, 20 x rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition and 7 x live cartridges. Two suspects linked to the illegal firearms were also arrested and will face prosecution.

“On Monday 10 March 2025, three Illegal Refinery Sites, 3 ovens, 7 dugout pits, 8 sacks with 3,700 litres of crude oil, 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South West Local Government Area, Delta State,” the statement added.

He also said between March 7 and 31, the Navy deactivated scores of illicit refining camps in Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West, seizing cooking ovens, pumping machines, sacks of refined AGO, and thousands of litres of crude oil.

Adams-Aliu said the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to supporting national economic recovery by securing the oil-rich waterways.

He said the successes of Operation DELTA SANITY II align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to bolster crude oil production and clamp down on oil theft, a major drain on national revenue.

“The Nigerian Navy will continue to intensify its operations in support of Nigeria’s economic activities,” he quoted Ogall as saying.