Nigerian Navy recovers 4.7 million litres of stolen crude in Q2 2026

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, recovering over 4.7 million litres of stolen crude and illegally refined products in the second quarter of 2026. The operations, part of the ongoing "Operation Delta Sentinel," have also led to the arrest of more than 91 suspects and the dismantling of over 48 illegal refining sites.

According to the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, naval forces conducted over 580 intelligence-driven operations between April and June across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, and Lagos States. The campaign aims to consolidate gains against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and militancy. Among the notable successes was the arrest of three motor tankers-MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K-allegedly involved in the theft of more than 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil. A single raid on an illegal site in Ndoni, Rivers State, yielded over 708,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products and 310,000 litres of stolen crude.

The Navy has also focused on preventing criminal networks from reactivating previously destroyed infrastructure. In a recent...