The Nigerian Navy has intensified its fight against oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling ten illegal refining sites and seizing over 27,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, the Commanding Officer of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Warri on Thursday. He said the illegal sites were discovered and destroyed in July 2025 during a series of coordinated operations under Operation DELTA SANITY II, aimed at crippling the activities of economic saboteurs.
According to Okoloagu, the operations were carried out in Obodo Omadino and Oteghele communities, following actionable intelligence. He explained that the first phase of the operation on July 1 led to the dismantling of three illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, where operatives recovered 7,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,575 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stored in one oven, 30 dugout pits and 21 polythene sacks.
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Further operations on July 12 and July 19 uncovered additional sites at Oteghele, where naval personnel dismantled facilities used for oil theft and recovered 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil, alongside a pumping machine used for the illicit operations. Maintaining momentum, the Base conducted another raid on July 23, deactivating two active sites loaded with 2,300 litres of crude oil and 2,675 litres of illegally refined AGO.
The final operations were carried out on July 27, leading to the destruction of the remaining sites in Obodo Omadino. In total, the Navy deactivated ten illegal refining sites and seized about 20,950 litres of stolen crude oil and 6,395 litres of illegally refined AGO. The recovered products were found in two locally fabricated ovens, 92 dugout pits and 60 polythene sacks.
Okoloagu reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to dismantling illegal refining infrastructure and protecting Nigeria’s oil and gas assets. He also warned those involved in the illicit trade to desist or face the full weight of the law.
