The Nigerian Navy has dismantled ten illegal refining sites in Delta State, dealing a major blow to oil bunkering activities in the region.
The Commanding Officer of the Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Escravos, Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, made this known in a statement on Thursday, revealing that the operation was part of the Navy’s intensified efforts under Operation DELTA SANITY II, a strategic campaign to secure the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure.
The illegal refining sites were discovered in Warri South Local Government Area, specifically within the Obodo Omadino Community. Acting on credible intelligence, naval operatives launched a series of coordinated raids throughout July 2025, beginning on July 1 with the destruction of three major illegal refining points. These locations were found to be processing large volumes of stolen crude oil using makeshift equipment like locally fabricated ovens and storage pits.
By the end of the month-long operation, the Navy had uncovered and deactivated ten illegal refining camps. In the process, they recovered approximately 20,950 litres of stolen crude oil and 6,395 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, believed to be prepared for distribution in the black market.
Read also:
- Navy arrest 3 suspected oil thieves, seize 6 boats in Delta
- Delta Oil tensions escalate as Kokodiagbene Community warns Chevron over AMU-HCDT registration
- NCDMB to float bank to boost capacity of indigenous oil, gas companies
Captain Okoloagu reiterated the Navy’s zero-tolerance stance on crude oil theft, warning perpetrators to desist immediately or face the full weight of the law. He emphasized that these illegal activities not only endanger the environment but also sabotage national development by draining government revenue.
The crackdown comes amid Nigeria’s continued efforts to boost oil production and stabilize its economy, which has been severely impacted by crude oil theft and vandalism. The Navy’s recent actions signal a renewed commitment to ending illegal oil operations and restoring order to the Niger Delta’s critical oil-producing regions.