Highlights  Niger delta oil samples were assessed for depositional environment and organic matter source.  Three samples were deposited in an oxic environment, while two were deposited in an anoxic environment.  The organic source inputs showed type III kerogen (Terrestrial) and a mixture of types II and III (Marine). Abstract The organic geochemical characterization of crude oil samples from the oil fields of the Niger delta was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to genetically characterize the oil samples in terms of their biomarker composition. Geochemical characteristics such as depositional environments, kerogen type, and source of organic matter were analyzed using aliphatic biomarkers as a supporting tool. Five samples were randomly collected from Tebidaba, Clough Creek and Azuzuama fields in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The saturated hydrocarbons were analyzed using GC-MS. The n-alkanes, isoprenoids, biomarkers hopanes, and steranes fingerprints were extracted from chromatogram for m/z 57, 191, 217 values respectively. The results revealed that the five studied samples were characterized by C29 sterane predominance and the presence of oleanane, depicting organic matter with vascular land plant material inputs and a deltaic contribution. Ternary plots showed that the oils were deposited in an estuarine environment. The pristane (Pr) /nC17 versus phytane (Ph)/nC18 showed that TEB 08 and WELL 2 are in the anoxic environment inferring kerogen II and a mixture of types I and II respectively. TEB 12, CCST, and AZU ST has kerogen type III deposited in an oxic environment.