Nigerian Navy Intercepts Stolen Petroleum in Rivers and Akwa Ibom
On July 25, 2026, the Nigerian Navy, operating under Operation Delta Sentinel, intercepted two wooden boats in the Okrika waterways of Rivers State. The boats were found carrying approximately 15,500 litres of petroleum products presumed stolen – about 12,000 litres of crude oil in the first vessel and 3,500 litres of siphoned Premium Motor Spirit in drums and jerrycans in the second. The operation was carried out by the crew of NNS PATHFINDER based on credible intelligence.
Earlier, on 23 July 2026, the navy seized the vessel MT FILIA in Akwa Ibom State, detaining its 12‑member crew. The ship was alleged to be siphoning crude oil from the Utue terminal and was found with roughly 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil lacking proper documentation. The vessel, crew and cargo were taken into custody for investigation and possible prosecution.
Navy officials said that between April and June 2026 the service had recovered more than 4.7 million litres of petroleum products, deactivated over 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, and arrested over 91 suspects as part of Operation Delta Sentinel. The effort coincided with Nigeria’s crude output rising to 1.89 million barrels per day in July, exceeding its OPEC quota.
Entities: Captain Abiodun Folorunsho · MT FILIA · Nigerian Navy · Okrika waterways · Vice Admiral Idi Abbas
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The operation was carried out by personnel of NNS PATHFINDER under Operation Delta Sentinel based on credible intelligence. (bc2fc52a-a18a-488e-9ee1-1ac24329552f, 426e4307-861c-4bbd-b0f6-6eafda02877c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Nigerian Navy seized the vessel MT FILIA and detained its 12 crew members for alleged involvement in siphoning stolen crude oil at Utue Terminal in Akwa Ibom State. (291d2b7b-baac-46bf-aa89-4d4719d76656)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] MT FILIA was carrying an estimated 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without requisite documentation. (291d2b7b-baac-46bf-aa89-4d4719d76656)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, surpassing the country’s OPEC production quota. (291d2b7b-baac-46bf-aa89-4d4719d76656)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Between April and June 2026 the Nigerian Navy recovered over 4.7 million litres of petroleum product, deactivated more than 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, (291d2b7b-baac-46bf-aa89-4d4719d76656)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Nigerian Navy intercepted two wooden boats carrying about 15,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and siphoned PMS in the Okrika waterways of Rivers State. (bc2fc52a-a18a-488e-9ee1-1ac24329552f, 426e4307-861c-4bbd-b0f6-6eafda02877c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The vessel, its crew and the recovered cargo were taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution. (291d2b7b-baac-46bf-aa89-4d4719d76656)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The first intercepted boat contained about 12,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil; the second boat held about 3,500 litres of siphoned PMS in drums and jerrycans. (bc2fc52a-a18a-488e-9ee1-1ac24329552f, 426e4307-861c-4bbd-b0f6-6eafda02877c)