Navy Arrests Two Vessels with ₦4bn Worth of Suspected Stolen Crude Oil
The Nigerian Navy has intercepted two vessels, MT Mkpodu and MT Westaf AF, laden with over 939 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil valued at more than ₦4 billion.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a total of 26 crew members were apprehended during the operation.
The Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, disclosed this development while briefing journalists in Calabar, Cross River State, on Sunday.
Oladipo stated that the successful operation highlights the Nigerian Navy’s ongoing commitment to combating crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage.
He explained that the arrests followed credible intelligence received around midnight on April 8. Acting on the information, naval operatives tracked and intercepted the vessels at a wellhead within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom Joint Operations Area, where they were allegedly engaged in illegal crude oil siphoning.
According to him, MT Mkpodu was caught in the act of siphoning crude oil at the time of the interception.
The commander further noted that the operation was carried out with the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Defence Staff.
“The Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Air Staff provided all necessary assets for the operation,” he said.
He added that following the arrests, Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and a Nigerian Navy 410 Helicopter were deployed to the scene. The helicopter supplied real-time aerial surveillance, while NNS SHERE secured the vessels at the offshore location.
Subsequently, Nigerian Navy Ship OSE and personnel from the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, facilitated the transfer of the vessels and the arrested crew members to the Navy jetty in Calabar.
Oladipo also revealed that a similar operation on April 10 led to the arrest of another vessel, MT Steliosk, further demonstrating intensified efforts to curb oil theft.
He emphasized that these operations reflect the strong collaboration between the Defence Headquarters and the Nigerian Navy in tackling crude oil theft through coordinated inter-agency efforts.
In his remarks, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, commended the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the crackdown on criminal activities in the region.