The Nigerian Navy has seized over 20,000 litres of stolen crude oil and dismantled eight illegal refining sites in the creeks of Delta State, in a fresh crackdown on oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, Commanding Officer of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos, disclosed this during a press briefing in Warri on Friday. He said the operations were carried out within the past week as part of Operation Delta Sanity II.

“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,” Okoloagu stated.

According to him, the operations were executed in multiple locations, including Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West LGA and offshore Escravos, following actionable intelligence.

“Specifically, on 6 June 2025, operatives acting on credible intelligence dismantled three illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino. The sites contained 4,660 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,125 litres of illegally refined AGO,” he said.

He added that further raids on June 13 and 15 led to the discovery of over 16,000 litres of stolen crude and illegally refined products in Oteghele and at Chevron’s Malu Jacket 19 platform.

“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,” he added.

Okoloagu credited the successes to intelligence-led operations and the Navy’s renewed strategic directive.

“These achievements… align with the Strategic Directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla… which emphasise sustained pressure on economic saboteurs,” he said.

The Navy reiterated its commitment to tackling oil theft and boosting national crude output amid ongoing economic challenges.