By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Navy has continued to record significant operational successes under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, sustaining its offensive against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, militancy and other forms of economic sabotage across the Niger Delta.
Following the successful completion of the First Quarter of the operation, operational activities were further intensified in the Second Quarter (April – June 2026) to consolidate gains and sustain pressure on criminal networks.
The renewed operational tempo comes against the backdrop of the recent announcement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that Nigeria’s crude oil production reached 1.735 million barrels per day in June 2026, representing 104 per cent of Nigeria’s OPEC production quota and the highest crude oil output recorded since April 2020.
Since April 2026, the Nigerian Navy has conducted over 580 intelligence-driven operations across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, and Lagos States.
These operations have resulted in the recovery of over 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, the arrest of over 91 suspects involved in crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, militancy and related crimes, the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites, the interception of multiple vessels engaged in crude oil theft, and the destruction of criminal logistics networks supporting economic sabotage.
Among the major operational successes recorded were the arrest of the motor tankers MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K, which were linked to the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil, the recovery of over 708,000 litres of illegally refined products and 310,000 litres of stolen crude oil from a single illegal refining site in Ndoni, Rivers State.
Others were the numerous intelligence-led operations that dismantled reactivated refining sites, intercepted illicit fuel consignments and prevented criminal syndicates from restoring illegal production capacity across the Niger Delta.
Coordinated riverine operations led to the deactivation of scores of illegal refining sites, reservoirs, dugout pits, storage facilities, warehouses, concealed fuel caches, pipeline connections and militant hideouts.
These operations also exposed a growing trend of criminal syndicates attempting to reactivate previously dismantled refining camps, prompting sustained follow-up operations that prevented the regeneration of illegal refining ecosystems and progressively disrupted the economic viability of crude oil theft networks.
A detailed breakdown of the data for the Second Quarter of Operation DELTA SENTINEL is in the attached fact sheet.
The Nigerian Navy notes that these sustained operational gains coincide with the recent announcement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission of increased crude oil production, exceeding the OPEC production quota.
This indicates improved security around critical oil and gas infrastructure and the collective efforts of security agencies in fighting crude oil theft.
Persistent naval presence across the Niger Delta waterways
