According to information made available to Naija News, the operation marks another major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the crude and the full identities of those involved, while the intercepted vessels and suspects are being processed.

In a related development, the Nigerian Navy disclosed that it recovered 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and arrested 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and maritime crimes in the first quarter of 2026.

The recoveries were made under Operation Delta Sentinel, a maritime security operation launched on January 13, 2026, to protect Nigeria’s waterways and curb crude oil theft.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.

According to him, February recorded the highest recovery with 360,700 litres, followed by 118,800 litres in January and 52,000 litres in March.

He said the operations included the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Rivers State between January 20 and 23, the interception of an 18-tonne barge on February 13, and the discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa on February 23.

Folorunsho added that further recoveries were made in key locations including Warri South-West, Oteghele Creek, Ogbe-Ijoh, Alakiri River, and the Ogbia/Egbema/Ndoni axis.

Notably, about 45,000 litres of crude oil were recovered at Alakiri River on March 14, while 44,000 litres of diesel were intercepted at Ogbologo on March 21, leading to the arrest of eight suspects.

He also revealed that the Navy dismantled 12 illegal refinery sites, four storage facilities, three vessels or boats, and two illegal pipeline or wellhead connections during the period under review.