The Nigerian Navy has announced significant breakthroughs in its ongoing efforts to combat crude oil theft and other maritime crimes in the Niger Delta region, as part of Operation Delta Sanity II.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement issued via the Navy’s verified Facebook page on Saturday, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Information, detailed a series of successful operations conducted in March 2025.

On Friday, March 7, naval personnel uncovered and dismantled an illegal refinery site near Oteghele community in Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State. The site contained approximately 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), an oven, nine dugout pits, 15 sacks of refined AGO, 13 sacks of crude oil, and a pumping machine.

Further operations included:

• Saturday, March 8: A large wooden boat carrying 40,000 litres of stolen crude oil was intercepted near the Okrika and Ogajama areas in Rivers State.

• Sunday, March 9: A sea-going vessel, MFT Olokun VIII (IMO No. 8778275), was apprehended along the Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State. Onboard, officers discovered illegal arms including a G3 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, 20 rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition, and 7 live cartridges. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the weapons.

• Monday, March 10: Three illegal refinery sites with 3 ovens, 7 dugout pits, 3,700 litres of crude oil, and 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO were found and dismantled around Obodo Omadino.

• Thursday, March 13: In Ohaji/Egbema West, Rivers State, the Navy uncovered 8 illegal refinery sites, 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs, 30 dugout pits, a vandalized wellhead, and seized roughly 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 4,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

• Friday, March 14: Two wooden boats loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil and two drums were seized along the Dodo River in Ekeremor LGA, Bayelsa State.

• Sunday, March 17: A fibre boat containing 1,000 litres of stolen crude oil was intercepted around the Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers State.

• Monday, March 17: Three additional illegal refinery sites with 2 ovens, 10 dugout pits, and 4,600 litres of illegally processed crude and AGO were deactivated in Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West.

• Thursday, March 20: Two wooden boats engaged in siphoning crude oil from a wellhead were seized, along with two drums of crude oil and one cooking oven, at Clough Creek and Dodo River, Bayelsa State.

Commodore Adams-Aliu emphasized the Navy’s unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s maritime environment and supporting the nation’s economic stability.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reaffirmed that the Navy will intensify its operations in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to enhance crude oil production and safeguard national assets