Navy Intercepts Three Tankers, Arrests 26 in Crude Theft Crackdown
The Nigerian Navy has arrested 26 crew members and seized three motor tankers following a midnight raid in the Calabar-Akwa Ibom maritime corridor. Troops from the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, intercepted the vessels while they were reportedly siphoning crude oil from a wellhead on April 8. This operation marks one of the most significant maritime seizures this month, involving over 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude. The military has transferred the suspects and the vessels to the naval jetty in Calabar for further investigation.
Two of the vessels, Motor Tanker MKPODU and Motor Tanker WESTAF, were caught in the act of illegal loading. MKPODU held approximately 480 metric tonnes of crude, while WESTAF carried 459 metric tonnes at the time of its capture. A third vessel, Motor Tanker STELIOS K, was intercepted two days later for similar offences. The use of aerial surveillance from a Navy helicopter proved decisive in securing the ships and preventing their escape into the Atlantic.
Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, Commander of Operation Delta Safe, attributed the success to a “synergy” between the Navy and the Air Force. He noted that the task force is currently operating under a mandate from the Chief of Defence Staff to eliminate the siphoning of national resources. The presence of Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and GONGOLA during the raids highlights the scale of the deployment. Authorities are now focusing on the shore-based financiers behind these maritime operations.
The Eastern Naval Command has indicated that this crackdown is part of a much wider sweep across the Niger Delta. Flag Officer Commanding Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie revealed that another linked vessel was recently intercepted in Bonny. Three additional ships are currently being tracked as part of an ongoing intelligence-led operation. The Navy appears to be targeting the entire logistics chain of the illegal oil trade rather than just the street-level operators.
Oil theft continues to bleed Nigeria’s economy, with billions of dollars lost annually to sophisticated syndicates. These interceptions suggest that the perpetrators are becoming bolder, operating tankers near active wellheads under the cover of darkness. The government’s response has shifted toward a high-tech approach, utilising real-time surveillance to monitor the country’s vast and porous waterways.
While the arrest of 26 crew members is a tactical victory, the broader challenge remains the prosecution of these individuals. Past arrests have often failed to lead to convictions due to legal loopholes or administrative delays. Rear Admiral Oladipo, however, reaffirmed his resolve to sustain the pressure. For now, the three tankers remain under guard in Calabar as a visual reminder of the state’s attempt to reclaim its maritime sovereignty.