Personnel of the Nigerian Navy attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos have destroyed a total of 10 illegal refining sites hidden within the creeks of the Niger Delta. The operations, carried out in July 2025, are part of ongoing efforts to curb crude oil theft, dismantle illicit refining infrastructure, and boost Nigeria’s daily crude oil output.
The Commanding Officer of FOB Escravos, Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, disclosed the development during a press briefing in Warri, Delta State, on Thursday. He described the operations as “significant operational successes” in the nation’s sustained war against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and related illegal activities plaguing the oil-rich region.
Okoloagu attributed the success of the operations to credible intelligence and the strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. According to him, the initiatives fall under the Navy’s ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II, which emphasizes sustained pressure on economic saboteurs.
“Specifically, on July 1, 2025, operatives acting on actionable intelligence dismantled three illegal refining sites at Obodo Omadino, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State,” he revealed. “The sites contained 7,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,575 litres of illegally refined AGO stored across one oven, 30 dugout pits and 21 polythene sacks.”
He further stated that on July 12, another illegal refining site was dismantled at Oteghele, also within Obodo Omadino. This operation led to the recovery of 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil stored in five dugout pits.
Navy Intensifies Crackdown, Dismantles More Refineries and Recovers Thousands of Litres of Stolen Crude
In a follow-up mission on July 19, personnel uncovered and dismantled yet another illegal site at Oteghele, equipped with one pumping machine. An estimated 4,200 litres of stolen crude oil were recovered from nine dugout pits during the raid.
Okoloagu noted that the momentum was maintained on July 23, when two active illegal refining sites were deactivated at Obodo Omadino. These sites were laden with 2,300 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,675 litres of illegally refined AGO, stored in 19 dugout pits and 10 polythene sacks.
Continuing the offensive, two additional sites were uncovered and deactivated on July 27 at Obodo Omadino. Approximately 2,650 litres of stolen crude oil and 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO were recovered from 17 dugout pits and 16 polythene sacks.
“Also, on July 30, 2025, FOB Escravos deactivated another active illegal refining site at Obodo Omadino, where about 3,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 945 litres of illegally refined AGO were recovered from 10 dugout pits and 13 polythene sacks,” he added.
In total, the Navy seized approximately 20,950 litres of stolen crude oil and 6,395 litres of illegally refined AGO across the operations. The illegal products were discovered in two locally fabricated ovens, 92 dugout pits, and 60 polythene sacks.
Captain Okoloagu reiterated the Navy’s commitment to dismantling all forms of illegal refining infrastructure and safeguarding Nigeria’s oil assets. He assured that FOB Escravos will remain relentless in its mission to counteract economic sabotage in the region.
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