Navy arrests 9 suspected oil thieves in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has arrested nine suspected oil thieves at a wellhead in Akwa Ibom State.

The wellhead is located about 26 nautical miles offshore in the state.

The Commander of NNS Jubilee, Commodore Abubakar Umar, disclosed this at a media briefing in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

He said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, flagged off Operation Delta Sanity 2 on December 30, 2024, to check crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, smuggling, sea robber,y and piracy amongst other maritime crimes in the Eastern flank of the country’s maritime environment.

Umar said the operation was aimed at increasing the country’s crude oil production.

READ ALSO: Navy intercepts boat with 100,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Akwa Ibom

He added that since the launch of the operation, the Task Group had conducted a series of maritime and air patrols as well as interdiction operations.

The commander warned oil thieves and other criminal elements operating in the country’s Eastern flank to desist from their acts of economic sabotage as the Navy was ready to deal ruthlessly with economic saboteurs.

He said the suspects would be thoroughly investigated and if found wanting would face the full wrath of the law.

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