The Nigerian Navy‘s Operation Delta Sanity II has made significant strides in combating oil theft and bunkering in the Niger Delta region. 

Over the past four weeks, the operation has seized 324,100 liters of stolen crude oil and apprehended an oil vessel. 

Also, 42,000 liters of illegally refined diesel have been recovered, and eight illegal refining sites have been destroyed.

Navy’s spokesman, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, announced this in a statement on Friday.

He said the troops also recovered some cache of arms and ammunition from suspected criminals during the operations.

Giving details of the troops successes, the Navy’s spokesman said on March 7 troops strikes an Illegal refinery site and recovered 5,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, one oven, nine dugout pits, 13 sacks of stolen crude oil, around Oteghele community at Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State.

Aliu said the next day, troops seized a big wooden boat laden with 40,000 litres of crude oil at Okrika and Ogajama general area in Rivers State.

He said: “On Sunday, March 9, a seagoing vessel, MFT Olokun VIII with IMO Registration N0: 8778275 was arrested around Saint Nicholas River in Bayelsa State with illegal arms and ammunition onboard. The arms included 1 G3 Rifle, 1 pump action gun, 20 x rounds of 7.62/51mm ammunition and 7 x live cartridges. Two suspects linked to the illegal firearms were also arrested and will face prosecution. 

“On March 10, three Illegal Refinery Sites, three ovens, seven dugout pits, eight sacks with 3,700 litres of crude oil, 23 polythene sacks with 1,900 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and deactivated around Obodo Omadino in Warri, South West Local Government Area, Delta State.

“On March 13, a vandalised wellhead, eight Illegal refinery sites, 55 ovens, 12 reservoirs and 30 dugout pits with about 55,000 litres of stolen crude oil and about 4,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Ohaji/Egbema West in Rivers State.

“On Friday 14 March, two wooden boats laden with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil, and 2 drums were seized along Dodo River in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“On Sunday March 17, a fibre boat laden with 1000 litres of stolen crude oil was seized around Bille/Krakrama waterways in Rivers State.”

The Navy’s spokesman said troops continue offensives against oil thieves and bunkerers on March 17, leading to destruction of three Illegal refinery sites, two ovens, 10 dugout pits, and recovery of sacks with about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 18 polythene sacks of about 1,900 litres of illegally refined desiel in Obodo Omadino in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to him, similar offensive was conducted on March 20 around Clough creek and Dodo river in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where troops discovered and seized two wooden boats actively siphoning crude oil from a wellhead, two drums of stolen crude oil and one cooking oven.

He said: “On March 23, two Illegal Refinery Sites, two ovens, 10 dugout pits, 13 polythene sacks, three drums, with 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were discovered and seized around Oteghele, Obodo Omadino general area in Warri, SouthWest Local Government Area of Delta State.

“On March 24, a wooden boat laden with 1500 litres of crude oil was seized around Bille and Krakrama creeks of Rivers State, while on March 25, a large wooden boat with about 100,000 litres of crude oil was seized around Egbessan oilfield, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

“Also, On March 26, a wooden boat laden with 30,000 litres of illegally refined Premium Motor Spirit was seized at Okirika axis in Rivers State, while on March 27, a suspected cultist/kidnappers camp, 4 vandalised wellheads, 8 Illegally Refinery Sites, 40 ovens, 30 reservoirs, 50 dugout pits, with about 70,000 litres of crude oil, 25,000 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 15,000 litres of illegally refined kerosene were discovered and deactivated around Ndoni, Ogba, Ohaji and Egbema West in Rivers State. 

“Similarly, On March 27, a storage facility with 15 jerrycans (30 litres) of illegally refined AGO was discovered around Bigimi, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, while on March 28, 2025, an Illegal Refinery Site with several dugout pits and sacks laden with stolen crude oil was discovered and deactivated around Bennet Island, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State. Two suspected crude oil thieves were apprehended during the operation.” 

The Navy’s spokesman said the troops continue to record successes despite some challenges. And on March 30 they discovered and deactivated an Illegal Refinery Site, 1 oven, and one storage tank laden with 7,000 litres of stolen crude oil around Clough creek, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“Also, around Tumburu community and Biseni forest of Bayelsa State, troops deactivated and seized an Illegal Refinery Site, 12 refining ovens and two dugout pits with 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 5,000 litres of illegally refined diesel,” he said.

The Nigerian Navy’s efforts to combat oil theft and illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta region have been ongoing, with these recent successes demonstrating their commitment to addressing these issues. The operation’s impact on regional security and the global oil market remains significant.