Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Nigerian Navy has intercepted over 135,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, and disrupted illicit fuel transportation networks operating along the creeks and waterways of Rivers State. The operation, conducted under the aegis of “Operation DELTA SENTINEL,” represents a significant blow to criminal networks that have long exploited the region's complex water channels for economic sabotage.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, June 7, 2026. He confirmed that personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER made the recoveries during separate anti-crude oil theft operations around the Onne and Abonema general areas, both of which are known hotspots for the transshipment of stolen petroleum products.
In the first operation, troops on routine patrol intercepted a fibre boat at the entrance of Owogono Creek in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area. The vessel was laden with drums and jerrycans containing the illicit cargo. According to Captain Folorunsho, the boat and its estimated 63,000 litres of product were recovered after the crew abandoned the vessel and fled into the adjoining creeks upon sighting the naval patrol team.
In a simultaneous crackdown around Abonema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, naval patrol teams intercepted a wooden boat that was transporting approximately 72,000 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO. The products were hidden in sacks as part of a crude concealment effort, but the astute patrol team managed to detect and thwart the movement. Captain Folorunsho noted that the products were being transported through the waterways for onward distribution to markets and storage hubs, before the operation successfully disrupted the supply chain.
The navy spokesman stated that the recoveries underscore the continued exploitation of the region’s creek networks by criminal elements to transport and distribute illegally refined petroleum products. The waterways and dense mangrove swamps of the Niger Delta have historically provided cover for such illicit trade, allowing criminal networks to operate with impunity. This operation exposes the persistent challenge of oil theft, which costs Nigeria billions of dollars annually in lost revenue and environmental degradation. Captain Folorunsho added that all recovered products and associated conveyances were handled in line with existing anti-crude oil theft procedures.
Reaffirming the navy’s position, he declared that the Nigerian Navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling crude oil theft networks, disrupting illicit fuel supply chains, and protecting Nigeria’s economic assets within the maritime environment. The seizure follows closely on the heels of other successful anti-theft operations. In a related development on June 6, 2026, the navy recovered 92,660 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO concealed within the Rivers–Bayelsa border corridor. These successive interceptions point to a coordinated push by the naval command to block both the supply of illegally refined products to local consumers and the transport of stolen crude to illegal refineries. The navy is intensifying its campaign against oil theft, which has plagued the Niger Delta for decades.
The recent successes have drawn praise from economic experts who argue that cracking down on the illegal oil trade is essential for stabilizing Nigeria's petroleum revenue and reducing environmental pollution caused by artisanal refining. While no arrests have been reported, the seizure of the vessels and the large volume of product has effectively removed the proceeds of crime from the market. Investigations are still ongoing.
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