26 crew members were also arrested in the operations.
The naval chief noted the confidence reposed in the military by civilians.
The Nigerian Navy says it conducted over 183 operations and recovered 531,500 litres of illegally refined petroleum products in the first quarter of 2026.
The Nigerian Navy is leveraging music as a soft power tool, employing its band to boost troop morale, foster national unity, and strengthen civil-military relations.
Mr Folorunsho said an anti-crude oil theft patrol team was deployed to the area, leading to the discovery of an active illegal refining site.
Mr Folorunsho said the site, located along the Alakiri River, contained about 10 dugout pits cumulatively laden with approximately 45,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Mr Folorunsho said the operation demonstrated the navy’s renewed momentum in tackling crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.
The exercise, flagged off by the flag officer commanding, Chidozie Okehie, was conducted at the Nigeria Navy Ship VICTORY jetty in Calabar.
The facility was built under a special “Quick Impact Project” of the chief of the naval staff, Idi Abbas, in honour of Patrick Nwatu (Rtd).
NSC’s executive secretary, Pius Akutah, made the appeal on Thursday when a delegation from the western naval command paid a courtesy visit to the council’s headquarters in Lagos.
