Massive Blow To Oil Thieves: Navy Shuts Down 71 Illegal Refineries, Seizes Over 400,000 Litres Of Stolen Crude

The Nigerian Navy’s Special Forces deactivated no fewer than 70 illegal refinery sites and confiscated over 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil across the Niger Delta in July 2025 alone, according to iReporter Online.

This information was included in a monthly operational update released on Friday by Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, the Director of Naval Information, in Abuja.

According to iReporter Online, the intensified efforts under Operation Delta Sanity form part of the Navy’s ongoing crackdown on crude oil theft and economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The operation led to the discovery and destruction of 120 dugout pits, illegal storage facilities, and equipment used for oil theft and refining in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.

The Navy denied oil thieves access to about 411,400 litres of crude oil, 87,825 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 72,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 21,900 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), according to iReporter Online.

The operation also resulted in arrests, seizures, and the dismantling of major illegal operations, including the interception of wooden boats used for smuggling.

Commodore Adams-Aliu reaffirmed the Navy’s resolve, under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to eradicate oil theft and enhance national oil production.

The Navy’s efforts have supported a recent milestone reported by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which confirmed Nigeria’s oil production has surpassed 1.8 million barrels per day.

Overall, the Nigerian Navy remains steadfast in ensuring maritime safety and national security, continuing to deter illicit activities within Nigeria’s waters.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”