By Mary Idika
In a decisive blow against economic sabotage, the Nigerian Navy has intercepted a massive oil tanker allegedly loaded with stolen crude worth over N660 million, arresting 12 crew members in a high-stakes maritime operation.
The vessel, identified as MT FILIA and bearing IMO number 8662684, was apprehended on July 23, 2026, while loitering within the offshore oil terminal in Akwa Ibom State.
Flying the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe, the tanker fell into the hands of naval operatives attached to the Eastern Naval Command under the banner of Operation Delta Sentinel.
Commodore AA Umar, the command operations officer, addressed journalists in Calabar on Tuesday, revealing that the arrest was the product of actionable intelligence gathered through the Navy’s sophisticated surveillance architecture.
He emphasized that the operation underscored the service’s growing capacity to detect and disrupt illicit activities in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Preliminary investigations have uncovered that the suspect vessel had been hovering around the offshore terminal for more than seven days, apparently biding its time to illegally access crude oil facilities.
The prolonged presence of the tanker raised red flags, prompting the Navy to close in and thwart the suspected heist.
The 12 crew members are now in naval custody, assisting with ongoing inquiries as authorities work to dismantle the criminal network behind the operation.
The Navy has vowed to pursue all those involved in the illicit crude trade, regardless of their standing or connections.
This successful interception reaffirms the Nigerian Navy’s unwavering commitment to protecting the nation’s maritime resources and securing the oil sector.
Operation Delta Sentinel continues to intensify patrols and surveillance, sending a strong message that crude oil theft will not be tolerated under any guise.
“At about 4:00am on July 23, a Nigerian Navy patrol boat intercepted the tanker after it departed the terminal and headed seaward, he stated.
“On sighting the Nigerian Navy ship, the crew began discharging the stolen crude oil into the sea, thereby causing maritime pollution.”
“Investigations from our end and the confession by the captain of the team show that the vessel loaded about 650 metric tonnes of crude oil estimated to be worth more than N660 million.
“A thorough investigation is still ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and identify other individuals connected to the operation,” he stated.
Umar said the arrest demonstrated the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s maritime resources and protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure from economic saboteurs.
He explained that Operation Delta Sentinel, launched in January 2026 by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, was designed to strengthen maritime security through technology-driven surveillance, improved maritime domain awareness, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
Umar further explained that the operation targets crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, sea robbery, kidnapping, and other maritime crimes within Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
He warned individuals and criminal syndicates involved in crude oil theft and other maritime offences to desist, stressing that the Navy remained determined to bring perpetrators to justice.
“As for the arrested vessel and suspects, proper investigation has been initiated, and they will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Umar stated.
