TWO men suspected of stealing crude oil from an oil platform in Akwa Ibom State have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Uyo and remanded in a custodial facility pending the next stage of their trial.
The suspects were arrested following an intelligence-driven operation by the Nigerian Navy Ship Gongola, Forward Operating Base Ibaka, on August 25, 2026.
News Point Nigeria reports that they were allegedly caught siphoning crude oil from the Seplat Utue B Oilfield Jacket into a wooden boat containing 17 GeePee tanks.
The Department of State Services (DSS), which arraigned the suspects, said they allegedly intended to smuggle the crude oil to the Republic of Cameroon for sale. The development was reported by the DSS as part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb crude oil theft and other activities considered harmful to the economy in the Niger Delta.
Items recovered from the suspects include five outboard engines, three pumping machines and three large hoses allegedly used to siphon crude oil from the oil platform into the boat.
A wooden boat was reportedly intercepted during the operation, while the two suspects were arrested onboard.
Five other members of the boat’s crew allegedly escaped by diving into the ocean, with security agencies continuing efforts to apprehend them.
The suspects were subsequently remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Uyo until September 24, 2026, when the matter is expected to come up before the Federal High Court in Uyo.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb crude oil theft and other activities considered harmful to the economy in the Niger Delta.
The latest arrests come as the DSS continues to prosecute suspected crude oil thieves in the state, with 19 other suspects previously arraigned by the agency currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Uyo.
The development underscores the continued efforts of security agencies to disrupt crude oil theft, which remains a major concern in the oil-producing region, while tracking down other members of suspected criminal networks involved in the illegal movement and sale of stolen crude.
