Arrested oil thieves don’t even know who they work for, says Navy chief

Eight suspected oil thieves paraded at the Nigeria Navy Ship, Pathfinder yard in Rumuolumeni, near Port Harcourt on Monday. Photo credit: NNS Pathfinder

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, has revealed that the real architects of crude oil theft remain largely out of reach of security agencies, while those arrested are often low-level operatives with limited knowledge of the wider criminal network. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi AbbasPhoto: Nigerian Army Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Vice Admiral Abbas said the structure of oil theft syndicates is deliberately complex, making prosecution and intelligence tracking particularly difficult. “Most of the faces behind these thefts are not really known or are not the ones we always catch. The ones we get at most of the illegal refinery sites are just being given some paltry sum, while the big masquerades are the ones that make the real money,” he said. Suspected vandals and oil thieves He explained that even when arrests are made, successful prosecution is often hindered by the lack of information possessed by suspects at the bottom of the chain. “In trying to prosecute some of these people that we get, some of them don’t even know who they are working for. So, the network is a very delicate one,” he added. Despite these persistent challenges, Abbas stressed that the Navy and other security agencies are continuously adapting their operational approaches to match the evolving tactics of oil thieves. “Despite the challenges, the Naval Chief said the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies are continually refining their strategies to counter the evolving tactics of oil thieves. “As they are evolving strategies, we are also evolving new strategies. Like I keep saying, technology is the way forward. With that, we have been able to reduce the level of theft,” he stated. He added that the deployment of technology-driven surveillance systems, intelligence gathering, and coordinated monitoring has significantly improved enforcement efforts in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions. Related News Abduction: Makinde restricts night motorcycle operations in Oyo Plateau nabs 14, bust 10-year-old child labour syndicate Committee renews call for Nigerian Coast Guard to boost maritime security Crude oil theft, particularly in the Niger Delta, continues to cost Nigeria billions in lost revenue while also causing environmental degradation in affected communities. However, Abbas insisted that progress is being made in securing maritime and coastal environments. “As it stands today, I c