In a formidable blow to maritime criminality in the Niger Delta, the Nigerian Navy has successfully dismantled a high-profile oil theft syndicate operating within Rivers State. The operation resulted in the apprehension of eight suspects and the recovery of approximately 44,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The crackdown, executed by the personnel of NNS Pathfinder, underscores the military’s intensified resolve to eradicate crude oil theft and economic sabotage within Nigeria’s territorial waters. Following the seizure, the suspects and the contraband were promptly transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for comprehensive investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Mutalib Ibikunle Raji, revealed that the raid was the culmination of meticulous “critical and credible intelligence” regarding illicit bunkering activities concentrated around the Degema and Obologo axes of Rivers State.
Speaking on behalf of the Commander, the Acting Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Justin Jerome, detailed the high-risk nature of the encounter. The syndicate was intercepted during a strategic patrol in the early hours of Sunday, 22nd March 2026.
“Whilst on patrol at approximately 0115 hours, the naval team accosted a vessel escorted by armed elements suspected of affiliation with extremist criminal groups,” Lieutenant Commander Jerome stated. “Upon sighting the naval patrol, the armed components fled the scene, abandoning the vessel.”
A thorough search of the abandoned craft led to the discovery of 423 sacks containing suspected illegally refined AGO. With each sack holding 106 litres, the total volume of the recovered product stands at an estimated 44,000 litres.
Commodore Raji noted that the success of the mission falls under the broader mandate of Operation Delta Sentinel. This initiative aligns strictly with the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, AM, to safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment and dismantle the infrastructure of illegal refining networks.
Receiving the suspects on behalf of the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate, Superintendent Chioma Blessing Emereole assured the public of a rigorous judicial process. “This matter shall be investigated with the utmost discretion. Should culpability be established, the suspects will face the full weight of the law,” she affirmed.
In a contrasting turn, the purported leader of the group, identified as Sokari, attempted to distance himself from the criminal nature of the enterprise. “We were merely engaged as loaders. I was entirely unaware that this constituted illegal bunkering until we arrived at the location,” he claimed during preliminary questioning.
This significant seizure serves as a pertinent reminder of the ongoing friction between security agencies and the sophisticated illegal refining cartels that continue to threaten the economic stability of the federation.
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