The Nigerian Navy has described those behind crude oil theft and illegal refining in Nigeria as sophisticated and well-coordinated syndicates, saying such operations require significant resources and planning.
Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, made the disclosure on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Folorunsho said the scale of crude oil theft meant the perpetrators could not be regarded as petty criminals, particularly when their operations involve large quantities of crude and maritime vessels.
“These syndicates are very, very coordinated and very, very sophisticated,” he said.
According to him, successful crude oil theft at the scale of metric tonnes requires considerable resources, including the capacity to operate at sea.
He added that the potentially high financial rewards from successful operations could encourage criminal groups to pool resources and invest in equipment needed to steal crude oil.
Navy uncovers suspected illegal refining sites
The Navy’s comments came hours after it announced a significant operational gain in its efforts to tackle crude oil theft and illegal refining.
The service said it discovered three suspected illegal refining sites and six reservoirs, recovering approximately 99,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The recoveries were made in the Navy’s operational areas in Rivers and Delta states.
The Navy said it would intensify operations against crude oil theft and other criminal activities along the country’s waterways.
‘No hiding place’ for oil thieves
Folorunsho said investments by the Federal Government in maritime surveillance equipment had strengthened the Navy’s ability to detect and disrupt criminal activities on the waterways.
He said the Navy’s message to oil thieves was clear: there would be no hiding place for those involved in crude oil theft.
He further warned that suspected criminals caught engaging in such activities would be made to face the law.
The Nigerian Navy’s latest operations come amid continued efforts to tackle crude oil theft and illegal refining, which remain major challenges to Nigeria’s oil production.
