Personnel of the Nigerian Navy attached to Forward Operating Base, Escravos have deactivated five illegal refining sites in the creeks of the Niger Delta as part of the sustained fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and related illicit activities in the region.
Disclosing this to journalists in Warri on Tuesday, the Commanding Officer of the FOB Escravos, Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu stated that “the significant operational successes were recorded in a series of coordinated operations within the past few days”.
He noted that apart from the deactivation of the five illegal refining sites, the naval personnel “seized approximately 13,350 litres of stolen crude oil” from the hoodlums.
“The products were discovered in 30 dugout pits and three polythene sacks,” he stated.
The Commanding Officer posited that “these achievements, recorded under the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II, were made possible through credible intelligence and align with the Strategic Directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), which emphasises sustained pressure on economic saboteurs”.
Shedding more light on the operations, he said, “Specifically, on 5 November 2025, operatives acting on actionable intelligence dismantled two illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State. The sites contained about 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil stored across 12 dugout pits.
“Subsequently, on 14 November 2025, an additional site was dismantled at Obodo Omadino, leading to the recovery of about 3,850 litres of stolen crude oil stored in seven dugout pits and three Polythene sacs.
“Additionally, on 19 November 2025, two sites were also dismantled at Obodo Omadino, leading to the recovery of about 5,200 litres of stolen crude oil stored in 11 dugout pits”.
The Commanding Officer reassured that the “FOB Escravos remains unwavering in its commitment to dismantling illegal refining infrastructure and safeguarding Nigeria’s oil assets against economic sabotage.”
He emphasised that the operations were “part of ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s daily crude oil output and combat economic sabotage.”
PUNCH Online reported on November 11 that the Nigerian Army, 6 Division, had arrested 14 suspected oil thieves and seized more than 20,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta.
It added that soldiers also dismantled 14 illegal oil refining sites during a two-week operation across identified flashpoints in the region.
