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 fight against economic sabotage.
The nine convicts were sentenced 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 under Operation DELTA SENTINEL 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 demonstrates the importance of matching operational enforcement with effective prosecution and judicial determination in the fight against crude oil theft and related forms of economic sabotage.
Since the launch of Operation DELTA SENTINEL in January 2026, the Navy said it has intensified intelligence-driven surveillance, precision interdictions and maritime operations across the Niger Delta.
According to the Service, the operation has led to 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.
The Navy said the operations are aimed at denying economic saboteurs access to Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources, protecting critical national infrastructure and strengthening the country’s energy security.
It attributed the renewed operational momentum to the strategic leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, particularly his emphasis on intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and enhanced maritime domain awareness.
The Service said its efforts are also aligned with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
The Navy stressed that successful arrests and interdictions achieve their full strategic value only when they culminate in timely convictions that uphold the rule of law and deter criminal networks.
It therefore commended the Judiciary for the judgment and appreciated the Department of State Services for its professionalism in ensuring the case reached a successful conclusion.
The Service also called for accelerated adjudication of pending crude oil theft cases, saying this would strengthen deterrence, promote accountability and consolidate efforts to protect Nigeria’s maritime and hydrocarbon resources.
While warning individuals and organised criminal syndicates involved in crude oil theft and illegal bunkering to desist, the Navy urged law-abiding citizens and host communities to support ongoing operations by providing credible information on criminal activities threatening oil and gas infrastructure.
The Service maintained that the cooperation of host communities remains crucial to denying criminal elements the local support and freedom of action needed to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
The Nigerian Navy further pledged to sustain operational pressure against economic saboteurs while strengthening collaboration with the Judiciary, sister Services, security agencies and other stakeholders in support of national efforts to increase oil production and develop the blue economy.
