Nigerian Navy Intercepts ₦4 Billion Worth Of Suspected Stolen Crude

The Nigerian Navy has intercepted two vessels carrying 939 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil valued at over N4 billion, in a major crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

The disclosure was made by the Commander of Joint Task Force South South Operation Delta Safe, Olugbenga Oladipo, while briefing journalists in Calabar on Sunday.

According to the Navy, the operation was carried out at midnight on April 8, when the vessels were apprehended at a wellhead within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom Joint Operation Area.

What They Are Saying

Oladipo stated that the successful interception followed credible intelligence gathered by naval authorities, leading to a coordinated overnight operation.

He explained that the mission was executed with strong institutional support from key national security offices.

“The Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff provided us with all the necessary assets we used in carrying out this operation,” he said.

The commander also confirmed that 26 crew members were arrested in connection with the seized vessels.

He added that the operation was supported by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), underscoring a coordinated national response to oil theft.

More Insights

Providing further operational details, Oladipo disclosed that additional naval and air assets were deployed immediately after the vessels were intercepted.

A naval vessel and a helicopter were mobilised to secure the area and enhance surveillance.

“The helicopter provided real-time aerial imagery of the vessels while Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE took custody of the vessels at the offshore location,” he explained.

The vessels and their crew were subsequently transferred to a naval jetty with support from other units.

He further revealed that another vessel, MT Steliosk, was arrested on April 10 in a related operation, indicating sustained enforcement efforts in the region.

What You Should Know

The latest seizure adds to a growing list of crackdowns by Nigerian security agencies targeting crude oil theft and illegal refining activities.

In recent operations, the Navy recovered over 20,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and dismantled illegal refining sites in Rivers State.

Similarly, about 44,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products were intercepted, with multiple suspects arrested.

According to the Defence Headquarters, troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 101 illegal refining sites and arrested 219 suspects in the first quarter of 2026.

During the same period, more than 547,920 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered, including crude oil, diesel, kerosene, and petrol.

Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission shows that crude oil theft has caused significant losses over the years, with Nigeria recording 37.6 million barrels lost in 2021, 20.9 million barrels in 2022, 4.3 million barrels in 2023, and 4.1 million barrels in 2024.

While losses have declined, the persistence of oil theft continues to pose a major challenge to Nigeria’s energy sector and revenue generation.