Nigerian Navy Seizes 15,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Rivers

Nigerian Navy Seizes 15,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on oil theft in Nigeria with the interception of about 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined fuel in Rivers State under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, who said the operation was carried out by personnel of NNS Pathfinder following credible intelligence.

According to him, the Navy deployed an anti-crude oil theft patrol team to the Abua-Odual and Ogbologo axis—areas widely regarded as hotspots for illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining in the Niger Delta.

During the operation, naval operatives intercepted two wooden boats laden with approximately 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

Folorunsho said the suspects fled upon sighting the patrol team.
“On sighting the naval patrol, the suspected perpetrators abandoned the boats and fled into the surrounding creeks to evade arrest,” he stated.

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The Navy confirmed that the intercepted boats and products were secured and handled in accordance with established operational procedures, while investigations are ongoing to track down those responsible.

The Nigerian Navy anti-oil theft operation highlights ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in crude oil theft—an illicit activity that continues to cause huge revenue losses and environmental damage in the Niger Delta.

The operation aligns with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, who has ordered intensified intelligence-driven missions to combat maritime crimes and secure Nigeria’s waterways.

Authorities say Operation Delta Sentinel remains a critical component of broader national efforts to protect oil infrastructure, curb pipeline vandalism, and boost legitimate crude oil production.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the offensive against oil thieves, stressing that surveillance and patrol activities would continue across vulnerable riverine communities.

Nigerian Navy Seizes 15,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Rivers