Navy Seizes 400,000 Liters of Stolen Crude, Arrest Perpetrators

The Nigerian Navy has struck a major blow against oil thieves seizing more than 400,000 litres of stolen crude oil in a daring operation that stretched across multiple communities.

The operation, part of Operation Delta Sanity II, saw naval officers navigating creeks and forested hideouts to uncover and dismantle over 30 illegal refinery sites.

Alongside the haul of stolen crude, several suspects believed to be behind the criminal operations were arrested.

“This is not just about stolen oil it’s about stolen livelihoods, stolen futures,” said Rear Admiral Zakariyya Muhammad, the Navy’s Director of Information. “We’re determined to end this cycle of sabotage and restore hope to the region.”

The Navy didn’t stop there. In a separate sweep, they confiscated another 303,700 litres of crude oil and shut down 23 more illegal refineries part of a growing network of makeshift operations that have long fueled insecurity and environmental degradation in the region.

For many locals, the operation brings a mix of relief and cautious optimism. Years of oil theft and pipeline vandalism have left scars on both the land and its people polluting rivers, destroying farmland, and robbing communities of jobs and development.

Now, with the Navy stepping up its presence and cracking down harder than ever, there’s hope that things might finally be turning around.

“We know it won’t be easy, but this is a step in the right direction,” Admiral Muhammad added. “We owe it to the people of the Niger Delta and to the country to protect these resources and restore peace.”