DSS Arraigns 19 Oil Thieves in Akwa Ibom

The United States — United States Department of State (DSS) has arraigned 19 suspected crude oil thieves before a Magistrate Court in Uyo, Nigeria — Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, Nigeria. The suspects were arrested on April 9, 2026, during an intelligence-driven operation led by the Nigeria — Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe (JTF-SS OPDS). The operation resulted in the arrest of 26 crew members and the seizure of two motorised tankers, Motor Tanker Westaf and Motor Tanker MKPODU, which were allegedly siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by a major oil company off the coast of Akwa Ibom. Seventeen of the suspects and the two vessels were earlier arraigned before the Federal High Court in Uyo and remanded at the Uyo Medium Security Correctional Centre. Two additional suspects, Arepade Dominic Ekprese and Benson Ekiokekeme Innocent, who were earlier on the run, were arraigned before the Magistrate Court, which declined jurisdiction due to the gravity of the offence but ordered their remand for 21 days pending the resumption of the Federal High Court in September. The DSS stated that these operations are part of the Federal Government's efforts to curb crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, increase Nigeria's daily crude oil production, and boost foreign exchange earnings.