Navy hails conviction of nine crude oil thieves in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of nine persons by the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for crude oil theft, describing the judgment as a significant boost to the ongoing fight against economic sabotage.

The nine convicts were sentenced by the court on September 14, 2026, to five years’ imprisonment on Count One and 10 years’ imprisonment on Count Two, without the option of a fine.

The suspects were arrested by the Nigerian Navy on February 7, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation while allegedly stealing crude oil from an oil wellhead identified as ASABO-D in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The Navy said the conviction represented more than a judicial outcome, noting that it demonstrated the importance of linking effective security operations with successful prosecution and judicial determination.

According to the Service, the judgment comes amid intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, the Nigerian Navy’s anti-crude oil theft operation.

Since its commencement in January 2026, the operation has deployed intelligence-driven surveillance, targeted interdictions and sustained maritime operations across the Niger Delta.

The Navy said the operation had resulted in the dismantling of more than 241 illegal refining sites, disruption of criminal networks, recovery of over 6.44 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, as well as the arrest of more than 230 suspects.

It said the operational achievements reflected its determination to deny criminal elements access to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources, protect critical national infrastructure and strengthen the country’s energy security.

The renewed operational drive, according to the Navy, is being supported by the strategic leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, whose emphasis on intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and enhanced maritime domain awareness has strengthened the Service’s efforts against maritime crimes.

The Navy said its operations were also in support of the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.

It noted that curbing crude oil theft remained important to increasing legitimate oil production, protecting investments in the petroleum sector and supporting national economic development.

The Service stressed that successful arrests and interdictions would have limited strategic impact if suspects were not effectively prosecuted and convicted.

It therefore welcomed the Uyo court judgment, saying that convictions were necessary to strengthen deterrence and demonstrate that persons involved in crude oil theft could ultimately be held accountable for their actions.

The Navy commended the Judiciary for what it described as the landmark judgment and also appreciated the Department of State Services for its professionalism in seeing the case through to a successful conclusion.

The Service called for closer cooperation among security agencies, prosecutors and the Judiciary to ensure that pending crude oil theft cases were given accelerated attention.

According to the Navy, an effective response to crude oil theft requires seamless coordination across the entire criminal justice chain, beginning with intelligence gathering and enforcement and extending to prosecution and conviction.

It also warned individuals, groups and organised criminal syndicates involved in crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage to desist from such activities.

The Navy said the latest conviction demonstrated that perpetrators could not rely on the remoteness of oil-producing communities, waterways or oil installations to evade justice.

It further appealed to law-abiding citizens and host communities to provide credible information on criminal activities threatening the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure.

The Service particularly emphasised the importance of host-community cooperation in denying criminal networks the local support and freedom of action required to sustain crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and related activities.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain, protecting critical oil and gas assets and infrastructure, and supporting legitimate economic activities.

It said operational pressure against economic saboteurs would be sustained, while collaboration with the Judiciary, sister Services, security agencies and other stakeholders would be strengthened in support of national efforts to increase oil production and develop the blue economy.

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