Oil theft: Navy arrests vessel, 12 crew in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has intercepted a vessel – MT FILIA with its 12 crew members for alleged involvement in the siphoning of stolen crude oil from an oil well at Utue Terminal in Akwa Ibom State.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Spokesperson of the Service, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorusho.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out on Thursday, 23 July 2026, based on credible intelligence from the Navy’s surveillance systems and sustained monitoring by its platforms under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The statement explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the vessel was carrying an estimated 32.82 metric tonnes of fuel oil and 650 metric tonnes of crude oil without the “requisite documentation or lawful authorisation.”

According to it, “consequently, the vessel, its crew of 12, and the recovered cargo were taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with extant laws.”

It stated that between April and June 2026, the Navy recovered over 4.7 million litres of petroleum product, deactivated over 58 illegal refining sites, destroyed over 239 dugout pits and 13 refining ovens, and arrested over 91 suspects connected to crude oil theft under Operation Delta Sentinel.

It pointed out that the feat coincided with the upsurge in national crude oil production to 1.89 million barrels per day in July 2026, surpassing Nigeria’s OPEC production quota.

It further added that while speaking on the Operation, the Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, commended the professionalism, vigilance and commitment of the personnel involved in the successful Operation and reaffirmed that the service remained resolute in its determination to eliminate crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other forms of maritime criminality that undermine Nigeria’s economic prosperity and national security.

He further noted that Operation Delta Sentinel, launched to combat crude oil theft and associated economic sabotage, continues to deliver measurable operational successes through persistent surveillance, intelligence-driven operations and close collaboration with other security agencies and critical stakeholders across the maritime sector.

It added that the CNS also reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to supporting national efforts to increase crude oil production, protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, and maintain a secure maritime environment conducive to economic growth and urged the public to provide credible information that can assist the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies in combating crude oil theft and other maritime crimes.