By Obinna Uballa
Nigeria’s long-running battle with oil theft is taking a more deceptive turn. As security forces tighten the noose around illegal refineries, criminal networks have devised a new method of using chemicals to process crude oil into adulterated petroleum products.
The Nigerian military says the tactic marks a troubling evolution in the activities of oil thieves, underscoring their determination to continue plundering the nation’s hydrocarbon resources despite sustained crackdowns by security forces.
Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, Commander of Operation Delta Safe, revealed the development during an operational visit to the region, warning that illegal refiners are no longer relying on the crude and easily detectable methods of the past.
“Illegal refiners are evolving,” Oladipo told journalists on Wednesday. “They no longer burn crude openly. They now use chemicals to mix with crude oil to produce adulterated petroleum products.”
For years, open-air burning of crude oil was the signature of illegal refining camps scattered across the creeks, with thick black smoke rising above the mangroves, betraying their locations. That visibility made such sites prime targets for military raids and destruction. But according to the military, those days are fading.
Instead, oil thieves are now turning to chemical mixtures, quietly processing stolen crude into petrol and other products that are pushed into illicit supply chains.
The consequences, according to Oladipo, are severe. “This process is scientifically incomplete and extremely destructive,” he said. “It damages vehicles and generators and causes serious harm to the environment.”
Beyond the mechanical damage to engines and equipment, the environmental toll is equally alarming. The Niger Delta, already scarred by decades of oil spills and pollution, now faces the added burden of chemical contamination from these makeshift refining processes.
To counter the new threat, the military says it is adjusting its strategy, not only by targeting illegal refining camps, but also by tracking the supply chains that make them possible.
“We are looking closely at where these chemicals are coming from,” Oladipo explained. “That is a critical part of disrupting this new method.”
Yet the challenge goes far beyond illegal refineries hidden in the creeks. According to the Operation Delta Safe commander, crude oil theft at wellheads remains a major concern, made more complex by the difficult terrain in which many installations are located.
“Thousands of wellheads are scattered across remote and often inaccessible areas,” he said. “In many places, thick vegetation makes movement almost impossible. Even when illegal activities are detected, access is a serious constraint.”
Despite these obstacles, Oladipo said military operations have intensified, with at least two major operations conducted daily alongside routine patrols.
“There is no operation without challenges,” he said. “But our focus is clear: to ensure that national production does not decline.”
He stressed that recent fluctuations in oil output should not be blamed on widespread vandalism, noting that maintenance activities and seasonal factors remain the primary causes.
In a bid to reassure investors and host communities, Oladipo described the Niger Delta as safe for business, pointing to increased exploration activities and the growing presence of oil companies as signs of improving security.
He also dismissed suggestions of rivalry among security agencies operating in the region.
“As you can see, all agencies are working together toward a common objective, securing national assets and increasing production,” he said.
While personnel training is not an issue, Oladipo acknowledged that the military faces serious capacity constraints, particularly in infrastructure and advanced surveillance technology.
“These technologies are expensive,” he said, “but they are essential for effective maritime and energy security.”
Central to the military’s strategy, he added, is intelligence from local communities. Without timely information, even the most sophisticated operations can fall short.
“If communities notice suspicious movements, trucks accessing the creeks or unfamiliar faces , they should report immediately,” Oladipo urged. “We must entrench a strong ‘see something, say something’ culture. The media has a crucial role to play in driving this message.”
That emphasis on information was echoed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, who said modern warfare increasingly depends on perception, communication and public trust.
“One of the key elements of the manoeuvre approach taught in staff colleges is Information Operations,” Onoja said. “Unfortunately, it has not received sufficient emphasis in the past, and that has affected perception management of both the Armed Forces and the government.”
He revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyode, is currently coordinating multiple operations nationwide, with a renewed focus on effective communication with civilians.
“The public provides information, and the Armed Forces act on it,” Onoja said. “The Nigerian press remains the most important instrument for building this synergy.”
Commending the sacrifices of troops and sister agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Onoja stressed that security cannot be left to the military alone.
“This is a whole-of-nation effort,” he said. “Every citizen has a role to play in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.”
