By Helen Udo, Abuja -NIGERIA.
The Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against crude oil theft with the interception and arrest of multiple vessels allegedly involved in illegal siphoning of petroleum products within Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, troops intercepted two motor tankers, MKPODU and WESTAF, in the Calabar/Akwa Ibom maritime corridor while actively engaged in suspected crude oil theft operations.
According to a press statement signed by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho said that ,the vessels, carrying a combined crew of 26 persons, were apprehended at different coordinates within the joint operational area.
MT MKPODU was caught siphoning crude oil and found laden with approximately 480 metric tons, while MT WESTAF was discovered with about 459 metric tons of suspected stolen crude oil onboard.Following the interception, Nigerian Navy Ship SHERE, supported by a Nigerian Navy 410 helicopter, secured the scene and provided aerial surveillance.
The vessels and crew were later transferred to Calabar jetty with the assistance of NNS OSE and personnel from Forward Operating Base Ibaka.A third vessel, MT STELIOS K, was also arrested on 10 April 2026 by Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA in connection with similar crude oil theft activities, bringing the total number of intercepted vessels in the operation to three.
The Commander, Joint Task Force South-South Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, described the operation as a testament to improved intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration, and sustained military commitment to securing Nigeria’s oil infrastructure.
The Eastern Naval Command confirmed that additional suspects and vessels are still being tracked, as ongoing operations continue across the region to dismantle oil theft networks and deter economic sabotage in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
