Nigerian Navy personnel from Forward Operating Base Escravos have dismantled eight illegal refining operations in the creeks of the Niger Delta region.
The naval team also seized about 20,710 litres of stolen crude oil and 3,225 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, informed journalists in Warri on Friday that these successes resulted from multiple operations carried out in the area within the last one week.
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This operation is part of continuous efforts to boost Nigeria’s daily crude oil output and combat economic sabotage.
The Commanding Officer said, “The seized products were discovered in two locally fabricated ovens, 66 dugout pits and 43 polythene sacks. In addition, the Base arrested three suspects and seized two boats.”
He highlighted that the Navy achieved notable successes in combating crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other related illegal activities in the Niger Delta.
Okoloagu said, “These achievements, recorded under the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II, were made possible through credible intelligence and align with the Strategic Directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla (Admiralty Medal), which emphasise sustained pressure on economic saboteurs.”
Describing the operations, he stated, “Specifically, on 6 June 2025, operatives acting on actionable intelligence dismantled three illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State.
“The sites contained 4,660 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,125 litres of illegally refined AGO stored across one oven, 19 dugout pits and 15 polythene sacks.
“Subsequently, on 13 June 2025, two additional sites were dismantled at Oteghele, also within Obodo Omadino, leading to the recovery of 8,400 litres of stolen crude oil stored in 21 dugout pits.
“Maintaining operational momentum, on 15 June 2025, following credible intelligence of illegal crude oil siphoning at Chevron Nigeria Limited, Malu Jacket 19, offshore Escravos, an Anti-Crude Oil Theft team was deployed.
“In a follow-up operation on June 19, 2025, three more illegal refining sites were uncovered and dismantled at Oteghele, with an estimated 7,650 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,100 litres of illegally refined AGO recovered from 26 dugout pits and 28 polythene sacks.”
