Nigerian Navy dismantles illegal refineries and recovers suspected stolen crude

The Nigerian Navy says it recovered 99,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined products while dismantling illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta.

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The Nigerian Navy has intensified anti-crude oil theft operations, discovers 99,000 litres of suspected stolen and illegally refined products.

The operations were carried out on Aug. 31, 2026, by Nigerian Navy Ships SOROH and DELTA after the navy received what it described as credible intelligence about suspected illegal petroleum activities.

Naval personnel found extensive infrastructure used for illegal refining, including a large refining oven, storage facilities and dugout reservoirs containing suspected stolen crude oil. The navy said the combined discoveries disrupted the storage and processing systems needed to sustain the illicit trade.

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The combined discoveries represent a substantial disruption to illicit petroleum activities, particularly the storage and processing infrastructure required to sustain the illegal trade.

Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the director of naval information, said the identified sites, facilities and recovered products were handled in line with established procedures. He said the operations reflected the navy’s resolve to maintain pressure across multiple areas, deny criminal networks the infrastructure needed for crude oil theft and illegal refining, and protect Nigeria’s oil and gas assets.

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The latest successes demonstrate the Nigerian Navy’s ability to maintain pressure across multiple operational areas while denying criminal networks the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and illegal refining activities.