Navy Hands Down Harsh Sentences in Crackdown on Crude Oil Theft
The Nigerian Navy has handed down severe sentences to nine suspects caught stealing crude oil in Akwa Ibom. The defendants, Michael Olayinka Mebawadu and eight others, were arrested by the navy in February over their involvement in crude oil theft at a wellhead.
On Monday, the Federal High Court, Uyo Division, sentenced the suspects to 10 years' imprisonment on count two. They received five years for count one.
The navy has been waging war against oil theft since Operation Delta Sentinel began in January 2026. In this time, they have destroyed over 241 illegal refining sites and recovered more than 6.44 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products.
As part of President Bola Tinubu's efforts to increase the country's crude oil output to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, the navy is working tirelessly to tackle oil theft in the Niger Delta.