Nigerian Navy Seizes Three Tankers, Arrests 26 in Major Oil Theft Bust

In a significant blow to illegal oil bunkering, the Nigerian Navy has seized three tankers and arrested 26 crew members suspected of crude oil theft in the waters off Calabar and Akwa Ibom states.

The operation, conducted by the Joint Task Force South-South Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), began late on the night of Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted two vessels, the Motor Tanker (MT) MKPODU and the MT WESTAF, at approximately 11:45 PM.

Both tankers were apprehended at a wellhead within the joint operational area of OPDS and the Eastern Naval Command. Officials reported that the MT MKPODU was caught actively siphoning crude oil and was found to be carrying an estimated 480 metric tons of the stolen product. The MT WESTAF was arrested nearby with approximately 459 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil on board.

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Following the initial interception, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SHERE and a Nigerian Navy 410 Helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The helicopter provided aerial surveillance while NNS SHERE secured the two vessels offshore.

The tankers and their 26 crew members were subsequently transferred to the Navy jetty in Calabar by NNS OSE and personnel from Forward Operating Base IBAKA. Further investigations quickly led to the capture of a third vessel, the MT STELIOS K, by NNS GONGOLA on April 10 for similar illicit activities.

While parading the suspects at the NNS VICTORY jetty, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, Commander of Operation Delta Safe, highlighted the mission’s success. He stated that the operation demonstrates a firm commitment to combating crude oil theft and securing the nation’s vital oil and gas infrastructure.

“The success of this operation can be attributed to the immense support of the Chief of Defence Staff, and particularly the Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff,” said Rear Admiral Oladipo. He affirmed his resolve to relentlessly fight oil theft, which he described as a drain on the country’s economy.

Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, confirmed that the crackdown is ongoing. He revealed that another vessel had been arrested earlier in Bonny and that the command was actively pursuing three more tankers linked to the illegal network.

This coordinated effort, involving multiple naval ships and air assets, is seen as a strong deterrent to economic saboteurs and a clear signal of the military’s intensified campaign against maritime crime in the Niger Delta.