Operation DELTA SANITY transitions to OPERATION DELTA SENTINEL

After Major Gains Against Oil Theft

The Nigerian Navy has officially transitioned from Operation DELTA SANITY II to a new phase codenamed Operation DELTA SENTINEL, following the recovery of stolen petroleum products valued at several billions of naira and significant operational successes in the fight against crude oil theft.

The flag-off ceremony was conducted by the Commander Task Group 25.1 and Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, who said the outgoing operation recorded landmark achievements that drastically reduced crude oil losses across the Niger Delta.

Rear Admiral Okehie disclosed that Operation DELTA SANITY II led to the arrest of 203 suspects and the deactivation of 324 illegal refining sites, contributing to the lowest crude oil losses recorded since 2009 and a corresponding increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production output.

He further revealed that between January and December 2025, the Nigerian Navy seized over 3.7 million litres of stolen crude oil and dismantled extensive criminal infrastructure, including 91 wooden boats and 732 illegal refining ovens used by oil thieves and vandals.

According to him, the success of the operation was driven by effective leadership under the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), enhanced maritime domain awareness through improved surveillance, and strong collaboration with host communities and sister security agencies. He noted that these efforts significantly boosted national revenue protection and improved Nigeria’s credibility in the global energy market.

Taking over the mandate, the Commander Task Group 26.1 and Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, said Operation DELTA SENTINEL is aligned with the Federal Government’s Project 1 Million Barrels Per Day (1mbpd) initiative and will run for an initial period of one year.

Rear Admiral Ibrahim explained that the new operation will place greater emphasis on deep offshore security, protection of International Oil Company (IOC) assets, and the intensified deployment of technology-driven surveillance, including both manned and unmanned platforms.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s zero-tolerance stance on economic sabotage and pledged sustained engagement with host communities, stressing that collective responsibility remains critical to maintaining steady growth in crude oil production and ensuring long-term maritime security.