The Nigerian Navy has recovered more than 2.25 million litres of petroleum products, rescued 24 kidnapped persons and arrested over 70 suspects during its third-quarter operations against crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.
The operations, conducted between July and September 2026 under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, also led to the deactivation of 88 illegal refining sites and the destruction of 14 boats allegedly involved in criminal activities.
The Navy disclosed that the recovered petroleum products comprised 1,555,983 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, 595,470 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 85,690 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 15,774 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene.
Continuing, the Service said it also seized four vessels and five boats, while deactivating 363 dugout pits, 20 reservoirs and 80 storage tanks used for illegal petroleum operations.
Other items recovered or destroyed included eight refining ovens, eight outboard engines, four arms, over 100 rounds of ammunition and seven vehicles or trucks.
The Navy said the operations were aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure and creating a secure environment for legitimate economic activities.
It added that the third-quarter achievements consolidated gains recorded since the commencement of Operation DELTA SENTINEL in January 2026.
According to the Service, its first-quarter operations involved more than 183 missions, leading to the recovery of over 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and the arrest of 18 suspects.
In the second quarter, the Navy conducted more than 580 intelligence-driven operations, recovering over 4.698 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
The operations also resulted in the arrest of more than 91 suspects and the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites.
Cumulatively, the Navy said it had disrupted more than 241 illegal refining networks and sites, recovered over 7.482 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, and arrested more than 230 suspects since the operation began.
The Service linked its sustained campaign against oil theft to improved security around oil and gas infrastructure, noting that the protection of legitimate production and evacuation activities remained critical to Nigeria’s economic performance.
It cited provisional Balance of Payments statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which showed that crude oil export earnings rose from $8.11 billion in the first quarter of 2026 to $9.39 billion in the second quarter, representing a 15.78 per cent increase.
While acknowledging the contributions of the Federal Government, regulators, industry operators, security agencies and host communities, the Navy said its efforts to suppress crude oil theft and protect critical infrastructure had contributed to creating a more secure environment for legitimate oil production and evacuation.
The Service, however, stressed that arrests must be followed by successful prosecutions and appropriate judicial penalties to achieve lasting results.
It cited the recent conviction of nine crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as an example of the desired outcome of arrests made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The Navy called for faster investigations and diligent prosecution of suspects arrested for crude oil theft, illegal refining and other acts of economic sabotage.
It warned that delays in prosecution could weaken deterrence and allow criminal networks to resume their activities after temporary disruptions.
The Navy, under the strategic direction of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said it would sustain intelligence-led operations to dismantle oil theft networks and protect national assets.
It also pledged to strengthen cooperation with host communities and other stakeholders to deny criminal elements the operational freedom required to sustain their illegal activities.
