The Nigerian Navy has recovered over 2.25 million litres of petroleum products, including 1,555,983 litres of stolen crude oil, 595,470 litres of diesel, 85,690 litres of petrol and 15,774 litres of kerosene, in the third quarter of 2026.
The recovery was made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL between July and September, following intensified intelligence-led operations to disrupt criminal networks and protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, the Service said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement noted that the feat builds on gains recorded in the first and second quarters of the year as part of efforts to secure the environment for legitimate economic activities.
In addition to the petroleum products, the Navy rescued 24 kidnapped victims and arrested over 70 suspects for various maritime crimes.
The Service also seized four vessels and five boats and destroyed 14 others linked to crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.
Besides, troops deactivated 88 illegal refining sites, 363 dugout pits, 20 reservoirs and 80 storage tanks, while destroying eight refining ovens.
It also recovered eight outboard engines, four arms, over 100 rounds of ammunition and seven vehicles and trucks.
According to the Navy, the operations degraded the infrastructure, logistics and freedom of action of criminal networks involved in the theft, processing, storage and transportation of illegally sourced petroleum products.
The third quarter achievements consolidate the operational tempo maintained since the beginning of the year.
In the first quarter, the Nigerian Navy conducted more than 183 operations, recovered over 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products, and arrested 18 suspects.
This momentum increased significantly in Q2, when more than 580 intelligence-driven operations resulted in the recovery of over 4.698 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, the arrest of more than 91 suspects and the dismantling of more than 48 illegal refining sites, among other successes.
Since Operation DELTA SENTINEL commenced in January 2026, the Nigerian Navy has disrupted over 241 illegal refining networks/sites, recovered more than 7.482 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, and arrested over 230 suspects.
These outcomes underscore the strategic nexus between maritime security, energy security and national economic prosperity, as the Nigerian Navy continues to attack the criminal ecosystem that enables crude oil theft, from illegal refining facilities and illicit pipeline connections to storage, transport and distribution networks.
The significance of these sustained operations is further underscored by recent economic indicators. Provisional Balance of Payments statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria indicate that Nigeria’s crude oil export earnings rose from $8.11 billion in Q1 2026 to $9.39 billion in Q2, a 15.78 per cent increase.
While this improvement reflects the collective efforts of the Federal Government, regulators, industry operators, security agencies, host communities and other stakeholders, the sustained suppression of crude oil theft and the protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure by the Nigerian Navy have contributed significantly to these improved outcomes due to a more secure environment for legitimate production and evacuation.
Beyond interdiction, the Nigerian Navy recognises that sustained success in combating crude oil theft depends on converting operational achievements into successful prosecutions and appropriate judicial penalties.
The recent conviction of 9 crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is the desired outcome for every arrest made under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The Nigerian Navy advocates swifter investigations and diligent prosecution of persons arrested for crude oil theft, illegal refining and acts of economic sabotage.
