The Nigerian Navy has dismantled illegal refining sites and recovered 99,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil in separate operations across the Niger Delta region.
The Director, Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, adding that the operations were carried out on Monday, August 31, 2026, by the Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS) SOROH and NNS DELTA, following credible intelligence on suspected illegal petroleum activities.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Navy has intensified anti-crude oil theft operations, discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen and illegally refined products.
“The discoveries were made in separate operations conducted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH and NNS DELTA on 31 August 2026, following credible intelligence on suspected illegal petroleum activities,” Navy Captain Folorunsho said.
Folorunsho said that during the operations, naval personnel uncovered extensive illegal refining infrastructure, including a large refining oven, storage facilities and dugout reservoirs containing suspected stolen crude oil.
“The combined discoveries represent a substantial disruption to illicit petroleum activities, particularly the storage and processing infrastructure required to sustain the illegal trade”, he stated.
He added that the identified sites, facilities and recovered products were “appropriately handled in accordance with established procedures.”
Folorunsho noted that the latest successes highlighted the Nigerian Navy’s resolve to “maintain pressure across multiple operational areas while denying criminal networks the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and illegal refining activities.”
The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining maritime security operations to protect the nation’s oil and gas assets and curb economic sabotage in the region.
“The latest successes demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s ability to maintain pressure across multiple operational areas while denying criminal networks the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and illegal refining activities”, the statement concluded.