Nigerian Navy’s Special Forces have deactivated at least 71 illegal refinery sites and confiscated over 411,000 litres of stolen crude oil across the Niger Delta in July 2025.
This was disclosed in a monthly operational update issued on Friday by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu
The operations were part of the Navy’s effort to curb crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
According to Commodore Adams-Aliu, the crackdown led to the discovery and destruction of 120 dugout pits, illegal storage facilities, and various equipment used in crude oil theft and illegal refining across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.
He said 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).
Commodore Adams-Aliu said the 2 large-scale illegal operations were dismantled in Biseni Community, Bayelsa, with over 450,000 litres of crude oil recovered.
Commodore Adams-Aliu noted that Navy personnel intercepted several wooden boats used for smuggling PMS and other petroleum products, and arrested six suspected smugglers.
The Navy reaffirmed its resolve to stamp out oil theft and boost national oil production under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
