The Nigerian Navy says it carried out more than 183 operations in the first quarter of 2026 under Operation Delta Sentinel, recovering about 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products.
In a statement released in Abuja, the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, said the operations also led to the arrest of 18 suspects linked to crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
He noted that February recorded the highest recovery volume at 360,700 litres, while January and March accounted for 118,800 litres and 52,000 litres respectively.
Folorunsho explained that Operation Delta Sentinel, launched on January 13, replaced Operation Delta Sanity II and introduced improved surveillance, better intelligence coordination, and quarterly performance reviews.
“Key operational milestones during the period include the seizure of 45,000 litres of stolen products in Rivers State between Jan. 20 and Jan. 23. Others are the interception of an 18-tonne barge on Feb. 13, the discovery of a 96,000-litre illegal wellhead in Bayelsa on Feb. 23, and the recovery of 34,000 litres of products on March 5,” he said.
Operations intensified in March across Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa, resulting in additional recoveries and arrests, particularly in areas such as Warri South-West and Ogbologo.
The Navy said it also dismantled illegal oil infrastructure, including refinery sites, storage facilities, vessels, and pipeline connections.
According to Folorunsho, the declining market value of seized products suggests that ongoing operations are weakening the profitability of oil theft.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and protecting Nigeria’s maritime assets under the leadership of Idi Abbas.
