Nabbed Oil Thieves Don’t Know Who They Work For, Says Chief Of Naval Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has revealed that security agencies often apprehend only the foot soldiers involved in crude oil theft, while the masterminds behind the illicit trade remain concealed within sophisticated criminal networks.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday, Abbas said the structure of oil theft operations in Nigeria is deliberately designed to shield the principal actors from law enforcement agencies, making investigations and prosecutions more difficult.
According to him, individuals arrested at illegal refining camps and other crime scenes are typically low-level operatives who receive meagre payments for their roles and have little or no knowledge of those financing or coordinating the operations.
“The people we usually arrest are not the real beneficiaries of these crimes. Those found at illegal refinery sites are often paid very little, while those making huge profits remain in the shadows,” he said.
The Naval Chief noted that the challenge extends beyond making arrests, as efforts to prosecute suspects are frequently hampered by a lack of actionable intelligence from those taken into custody.
He explained that many suspects are unable to provide useful information because they do not know the identities of the individuals directing the operations.
“In many cases, those arrested cannot even identify who they are working for. That shows how carefully structured and insulated these networks are,” Abbas stated.
Despite the complexity of the criminal syndicates, he said the Nigerian Navy, alongside other security agencies, has continued to refine its operational strategies to stay ahead of oil thieves and other maritime criminals.
Abbas emphasized that the adoption of technology has become a critical component of the fight against crude oil theft, enabling security agencies to improve surveillance, intelligence gathering and monitoring across key oil-producing areas.
“As these criminals continue to change their tactics, we are also adjusting our methods. Technology remains the key driver, and it has helped us significantly reduce the scale of theft,” he said.
He added that enhanced surveillance systems and coordinated security operations have strengthened efforts to protect vital oil infrastructure and curb illegal activities in the nation’s coastal and riverine environments.
Crude oil theft remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic and security challenges, costing the country substantial revenue losses while contributing to environmental degradation, particularly in communities across the Niger Delta.
Nevertheless, Abbas maintained that the security situation in the nation’s waterways has improved considerably.
“Our coastal and riverine areas are relatively secure today,” he said.
According to him, the Navy has achieved notable successes in suppressing illegal bunkering operations and tackling incidents of sea robbery, although isolated cases still occur.
“The major challenge we continue to face is crude oil theft, along with some pockets of sea robbery, but these have largely been brought under control,” he added.
The Naval Chief also advocated judicial reforms aimed at strengthening the prosecution of maritime offenders, calling for the establishment of a specialised court dedicated to maritime-related crimes.
He argued that a dedicated judicial framework would accelerate the trial process and improve accountability within the sector.
Abbas further noted that such a court would relieve the Navy of the significant financial and logistical burden associated with maintaining seized vessels while legal proceedings drag on.
“If a special maritime court is established, justice will be dispensed more quickly, and the Navy will no longer have to spend enormous resources maintaining vessels kept in our custody for prolonged periods,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Navy’s determination to sustain pressure on criminal networks involved in crude oil theft, stressing that lasting success would require stronger collaboration among security agencies, industry stakeholders and host communities.