In a series of coordinated operations carried out between June 18 and June 19, 2025, the Nigerian Navy has once again exposed an alarming resurgence of illegal oil refining and siphoning activities in the Niger Delta region, despite ongoing claims by private security companies, notably Tompolo Tantita Security Services, of effectively monitoring and safeguarding pipelines.

On Thursday, June 19, the Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA launched Operation DELTA SANITY, successfully locating and dismantling a clandestine dump site in Obotebe community, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. The site was used for illegal refining and contained a Yamaha engine, a generator, six pumping machines, and two rolls of hoses—materials indicative of ongoing illicit petrochemical activities. This discovery starkly contradicts the assurances of pipeline security supposedly maintained by Tompolo Tantita Security Services, a private firm that has claimed to be the primary guardian of the Niger Delta's pipeline infrastructure.

Same day, on June 19, the Navy’s Ship PATHFINDER uncovered yet another illegal operation near Egbema in Rivers State. Investigations revealed an illegal connection to a wellhead, and the spectrum of illicit activities extended to two refining sites equipped with three ovens and four dug-out pits overflowing with siphoned crude oil—allegedly siphoned from the nation's oil resources through unauthorized channels.

In a similar vein, on June 18, Forward Operating Base BONNY reported the destruction of three dump sites and numerous dug pits filled with stolen crude oil, illustrating that illegal refining and siphoning continue unabated in Rivers State, an area frequently targeted by vandals and illegal operators operating at the fringes of what private security agencies claim to police.

Despite claims by Tompolo Tantita Security Services of vast success in pipeline protection within the Niger Delta, these recurrent discoveries highlight serious concerns about the actual effectiveness and reach of private security efforts. The persistent emergence of new illegal sites suggests a glaring disconnect between the securitization efforts on paper and the reality on the ground, where illegal operators apparently continue to operate with impunity.

Critics argue that the continued proliferation of illegal refining sites not only compromises Nigeria’s economic stability but also poses serious environmental and security risks to local communities. The Nigerian Navy’s recent operations underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive, cohesive strategy that extends beyond private security contractors, integrating state security forces to truly safeguard the nation’s vital oil infrastructure against entrenched criminal elements.

As the Nigerian Navy persists with its ongoing patrols and deactivations in the Niger Delta, questions remain about the efficacy of current pipeline protection initiatives. The contrast between private claims of security and the relentless uncovering of illegal sites suggests that much work still needs to be done to restore genuine security and protect Nigeria’s oil-rich territories from persistent illegal mineral exploitation.