The Nigerian Navy has intercepted two vessels loaded with nearly 940 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil in a major anti-oil theft operation in Nigeria’s south-south waters, with a third vessel arrested days later in follow-up operations.
The Commander of Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, announced the arrests while briefing journalists in Calabar on Sunday 12th April. He said the vessels, MT Mkpodu and MT Westaf AF were apprehended at a wellhead within the Calabar/Akwa Ibom Joint Operation Area, where they were actively involved in crude oil theft. The arrests were made possible through credible intelligence, at midnight on April 8, 2026.
Vanguard News reports that MT Mkpodu was intercepted in the process of actively siphoning crude oil and was found laden with an estimated 480 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude, while MT Westaf AF had about 459 metric tonnes of suspected crude oil on board at the time of arrest. Twenty-six crew members across both vessels were also arrested in the operations.
Rear Admiral Oladipo disclosed that the operation was made possible through cooperation with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Defence Staff. Following the arrest, Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE and a Nigerian Air Force 410 Helicopter were deployed to the scene, the helicopter providing real time aerial imagery of the vessels while NNS SHERE took custody of both at the offshore location.
NNS OSE and elements of Forward Operating Base IBAKA subsequently facilitated the transfer of the arrested vessels and crew members to the Navy jetty in Calabar.
The operation extended beyond the initial arrests. Preliminary investigation led to the arrest of a third vessel, Motor Tanker Stelios K, by Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA on April 10, 2026, for similar crude oil theft activities.
The Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Chidozie Okehie, assured the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, of continued commitment to further arrests of criminals operating in the region.