The Nigerian Navy has applauded the Uyo Federal High Court for convicting and sentencing nine persons for crude oil theft under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
The commendation is contained in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
Folorunsho describes the judgement as a significant development in the sustained fight against economic sabotage.
“The nine convicts were sentenced by the court on Monday to five years’ imprisonment on count one and 10 years’ imprisonment on count two, without any option of fine.
“The navy during an intelligence-led operation arrested the suspects on Feb. 7, while they were stealing crude oil from an oil well-head identified as ASABO-D in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
“The conviction is therefore not merely a judicial outcome but a clear demonstration of what can be achieved when operational action is matched by effective prosecution and judicial determination,” he said.
Folorunsho also said that the development came as the navy sustained intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage under Operation DELTA SENTINEL.
“Since the inception of the operation in January 2026, it has leveraged intelligence-driven surveillance, precision interdictions and sustained maritime dominance across the Niger Delta to dismantle over 241 illegal refining sites.
“It also enabled the disruption of sophisticated criminal networks, recovery of more than 6.44 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products, and the arrest over 230 suspects.
“These operational achievements underscore the navy’s unwavering resolve to deny economic saboteurs the freedom to exploit the nation’s hydrocarbon resources, while protecting critical national infrastructure and reinforcing energy security.
“The renewed operational momentum is driven by the strategic leadership of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Idi Abbas,” he said.
The naval spokesman also said that the CNS’ emphasis on intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and enhanced maritime domain awareness had significantly strengthened the service’s capacity to combat maritime crime.
He said the efforts directly supported the policy direction of President Bola Tinubu, to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.
He reiterated that while successful interdictions at sea were essential, their strategic value was fully realised only when they culminated in timely convictions that reinforced the rule of law and serve as a strong deterrent to criminal networks.
“The navy commends the Judiciary for this landmark judgment and appreciates the Department of State Services for its professionalism in seeing the case through to a successful conclusion.
“The fight against crude oil theft can achieve enduring success only through seamless collaboration across the entire criminal justice chain, from intelligence gathering and enforcement to prosecution and conviction.
“In this regard, the navy advocates the accelerated adjudication of pending crude oil theft cases to further strengthen deterrence, uphold accountability and consolidate the nation’s efforts to protect its maritime resources,” he further said.
Folorunsho reaffirmed the navy’s unwavering resolve to combat crude oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage, while warning all individuals, groups and organised criminal syndicates engaged in such illicit activities to desist from such.
He noted that the latest conviction was a pointer that perpetrators of crude oil theft could not rely on the remoteness of oil-producing communities, waterways or oil installations to evade justice.
He called on law-abiding citizens and communities to continue to support ongoing efforts by providing credible information on activities of criminal elements that threatened the nation’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.
“The cooperation of host communities is vital to denying criminal elements the local support and freedom of action required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities,” he said.
He added that the navy would sustain its operational pressure against economic saboteurs while strengthening collaboration with the judiciary, sister services, security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
