Nigeria Navy Intensifies Oil Theft Crackdown as 26 Crew Arrested, 3 Vessels Seized in Delta Operation

A major maritime security operation has led to the arrest of 26 crew members and the seizure of three vessels suspected of crude oil theft along the Calabar–Akwa Ibom corridor, as Nigerian security forces step up efforts to protect the country’s oil assets.

The Joint Task Force South-South, under Operation Delta Safe, carried out the midnight operation on April 8, 2026, targeting illegal activities at sea. The raid resulted in the interception of two vessels allegedly caught siphoning crude oil directly from a wellhead.

Military authorities identified the vessels as Motor Tanker MKPODU and Motor Tanker WESTAF. Officials say MKPODU was found actively engaged in siphoning operations and loaded with about 480 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude, while WESTAF reportedly had around 459 metric tonnes onboard at the time of interception.

A third vessel, Motor Tanker STELIOS K, was later apprehended on April 10 by Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA over similar suspicions, expanding the scope of the crackdown within the maritime corridor.

Following the interceptions, naval assets including Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and aerial support from a helicopter were deployed to secure the scene and monitor the operation in real time. The vessels and suspects were subsequently moved offshore and later handed over to authorities at the naval jetty in Calabar.

The Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, said the operation reflects the military’s sustained commitment to ending crude oil theft and protecting critical national infrastructure. He credited the success to inter-agency collaboration, particularly between the Navy and Air Force.

He also confirmed that the operation was still ongoing, with additional vessels being tracked in connection with the illegal activities. Similarly, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie of the Eastern Naval Command disclosed that another vessel linked to the network had earlier been intercepted in Bonny.

Security officials say the latest arrests form part of a wider strategy to dismantle oil theft syndicates operating in Nigeria’s coastal waters, as authorities vow to intensify surveillance and enforcement in the region.