Navy Hands Eight Oil Thieves, 44,000 Litres of Diesel to EFCC

By Abah Margaret

The Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder has arrested eight suspected oil thieves and seized 44,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.

The suspects and confiscated products have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

Commander of NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Mutalib Ibikunle Raji, disclosed the operation at the NNS Pathfinder base in Rumuolumeni near Port Harcourt on Monday. He said the arrests followed “critical and credible intelligence” on illegal bunkering activities in the Degema and Obologo areas of Rivers State.

Represented by the Acting Base Operations Officer, Lieutenant Commander Justin Jerome, Raji explained that the breakthrough occurred during a high-risk patrol on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

“While on patrol at about 0115 hours, the team accosted a boat being escorted by armed elements suspected to be affiliated with illegal groups. On sighting the naval patrol team, the criminal elements fled the scene,” he said.

A subsequent search led to the discovery of 423 sacks of suspected illegally refined AGO, each containing 106 litres, totaling about 44,000 litres.

The operation was conducted under Operation Delta Sentinel, in line with directives from the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, to combat crude oil theft and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime environment.

Receiving the suspects, EFCC Superintendent Blessing Emereole stated that the commission would conduct a thorough investigation.

“This will be investigated discreetly. If found culpable, the suspects will be prosecuted,” she said.

One of the suspects, identified as Sokari, claimed he was unaware the operation was illegal.

“We were just loaders. I didn’t know it was illegal bunkering until we got there,” he said.

The arrests and seizure highlight ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle illegal refining networks in the Niger Delta and curb acts of economic sabotage.

Earlier reports noted that the naval patrol team, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted two wooden boats laden with illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil during the operation.