The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, successfully intercepting a large wooden boat conveying a significant quantity of suspected stolen crude oil in Bonny, Rivers State.
The operation, carried out on Saturday, 28 February 2026, was conducted under the ongoing Operation DELTA SENTINEL as part of sustained efforts to curb economic sabotage and protect the nation’s critical oil infrastructure.
According to military sources, personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny, in collaboration with troops of 146 Battalion, deployed a specialised Anti-Crude Oil Theft Team to the Coal Beach general area following credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves within the axis.
During the patrol, the security team sighted and intercepted a large wooden boat heavily laden with product suspected to be stolen crude oil. However, upon noticing the advancing security presence, occupants of an accompanying fibre boat reportedly abandoned the scene and fled into nearby creeks to evade arrest.
The intercepted boat and its contents were subsequently secured by the security forces, while efforts are ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Security officials noted that the successful operation reflects the increasing synergy between the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in combating crude oil theft, illegal refining and related criminal activities in the region.
They reaffirmed that Operation DELTA SENTINEL remains focused on dismantling criminal networks responsible for oil theft and economic sabotage, while strengthening maritime security across the nation’s waterways.
The Nigerian Navy further assured stakeholders and host communities of its continued resolve to sustain aggressive patrols, enhance intelligence-driven operations, and safeguard the nation’s economic assets for national development.
