The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Jubilee, Ikot Abasi, has arrested nine suspected crude oil thieves from a wellhead about 26MM offshore.

The Commander, Commodore Abubakar Umar, who made this known to the press on Sunday, said a wooden boat suspected to be engaged in economic sabotage with nine persons in the vicinity of one of the wellheads within the Eastern Naval Command Area of Responsibility was arrested. This is in continuation of the mandate of Operation DELTA SANITY, recently flagged off by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to combat crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, smuggling, sea robbery, and piracy, among other maritime crimes in the Eastern flank of the country’s maritime environment, with a view to increasing the country’s crude oil production.

Umar further explained that the arrest resulted from joint intelligence collaboration between the security team from the operators, the Nigerian Navy, and the Department of State Services. It was a well-coordinated maritime operation involving NN assets, ships, and air assets, including Private Maritime Logistics Support Companies under his command, deployed on the directive of the Commander Task Group Operation DELTA SANITY 2, Rear Admiral S.A. Akinwande.

Umar stressed that the Nigerian Navy is committed to reducing maritime-related crimes in the nation’s maritime domain to the barest minimum and emphasized the need for synergy between the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

He warned crude oil thieves and other criminal elements operating in the Eastern flank of the country to desist from their acts of economic sabotage, as the NN is poised to deal ruthlessly with economic saboteurs.

He added that a proper investigation has been initiated for the arrested suspects, and they will face the full wrath of the law.