Nigerian Navy Recovers 2.25 Million Litres of Petroleum Products, Arrests Over 70 Suspects in Q3
The Nigerian Navy has recovered more than 2.25 million litres of petroleum products and arrested over 70 suspects during its intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism and other economic crimes between July and September 2026.
The achievements were recorded under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, an ongoing military campaign aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in petroleum theft and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
According to the Navy, the recovered products included 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.
During the operations, the Navy also rescued 24 kidnapped persons, seized four vessels and five boats, and destroyed 14 other boats linked to crude oil theft. Additionally, more than 88 illegal refining sites, 363 dugout pits, 20 reservoirs and 80 storage tanks were deactivated.
Other items recovered or destroyed included eight refining ovens, eight outboard engines, four firearms, over 100 rounds of ammunition and seven vehicles and trucks.
The Navy said the operations had significantly weakened the infrastructure and logistics used by criminal groups to steal, process, store and transport illegally sourced petroleum products.
The latest achievements build on the successes recorded in the first two quarters of 2026. In the first quarter, the Navy conducted more than 183 operations, recovered over 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and arrested 18 suspects.
In the second quarter, the Service carried out more than 580 intelligence-led operations, recovering over 4.698 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products. More than 91 suspects were arrested, while over 48 illegal refining sites were dismantled.
Since Operation DELTA SENTINEL began in January 2026, 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.
The Navy also linked its sustained operations to efforts to improve Nigeria’s oil production and export environment. Provisional Balance of Payments statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that the country’s crude oil export earnings increased from $8.11 billion in the first quarter of 2026 to $9.39 billion in the second quarter, representing a 15.78 per cent rise.
While acknowledging the contributions of the Federal Government, regulators, oil industry operators, security agencies and host communities, the Navy said protecting oil and gas infrastructure and suppressing crude oil theft had helped create a more secure environment for legitimate production and evacuation.
The Service further stressed the importance of prosecuting arrested suspects to ensure that operational successes translate into lasting deterrence.
It cited the recent conviction of nine crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as an example of the judicial outcomes it seeks to achieve through its operations.
The Navy called for faster investigations and diligent prosecution of individuals arrested for crude oil theft, illegal refining and other forms of economic sabotage.
Under the leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, the Navy said it would continue intelligence-driven operations and strengthen cooperation with host communities and other stakeholders to protect national assets and disrupt criminal activities.
