Nigerian military forces operating under Operation DELTA SAFE dismantled 101 illegal crude oil refining sites and apprehended 219 individuals linked to petroleum theft and related offenses during the first quarter of 2026. Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations at the Defence Headquarters, provided the figures during a routine quarterly briefing in Abuja.
The coordinated security campaign covered the South-South geopolitical zone and adjacent territories, targeting networks responsible for pipeline vandalism, illicit refining, kidnapping, and organized drug trafficking. According to Onoja, military personnel recovered more than 547,920 litres of stolen petroleum products, including crude oil, premium motor spirit, automotive gas oil, and kerosene. March operations alone accounted for the retrieval of 193,570 litres of refined products, alongside the interception of approximately 45,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Rivers State.
Enforcement actions extended across multiple Niger Delta states. Troops neutralized suspected kidnappers, rescued hostages, and dismantled clandestine processing facilities in Rivers and Imo states. In Edo State, military units conducted joint raids with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency that resulted in narcotics-related arrests. Security personnel also disrupted sabotage operations in Akwa Ibom State after safely locating and disarming explosives attached to an oil infrastructure facility.
Defence officials noted that sustained deployments have reduced the operational capacity of syndicates profiting from energy resource theft. Unauthorized crude extraction and artisanal refining have historically disrupted commercial production in Nigeria’s oil-producing corridor, contributing to environmental damage and fiscal revenue loss. The systematic dismantling of these networks remains a central component of broader regional stabilization strategies.
The Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to maintaining continuous security operations against economic sabotage and organized crime. Military deployments in the Niger Delta will continue alongside enhanced intelligence coordination with domestic law enforcement and international agencies monitoring illicit petroleum supply chains. Operations will remain adaptive to shifting criminal tactics while prioritizing critical infrastructure protection and regional stability.
