The Nigerian government has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region, with the arrest of four suspected oil thieves in Delta State.

 The suspects were apprehended aboard the vessel MT Thor, which was intercepted on December 15, 2025, while carrying an unspecified quantity of suspected illegally sourced petroleum products.

Tantita Security Services Limited (TSSNL), a firm engaged in pipeline surveillance operations, played a crucial role in the arrest of the suspects. 

The company’s Executive Director of Operations, Captain Warredi Enisouh, announced the apprehension of the suspects during the handover ceremony at Koko Port in Delta State. According to Captain Enisouh, the suspects were caught with crude oil obtained through illicit means.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the vessel MT Thor is linked to a jetty operated by Ebenco Global Services Limited. The owner of the jetty, Mr. Ebenezer, has been contacted by investigators and has provided additional documents, including court orders, which are currently under review.

A joint investigation team led by the Head of Investigation of the Special Prosecution Team (SPT) conducted a Joint Inspection Visit in Koko on December 16. The team inspected containers suspected to be carrying crude oil within the premises of Ebenco Global Links Limited and took samples from a storage barge.

The inspection of MT Thor was conducted on December 17, 2025, after the vessel berthed at the jetty. Investigators took samples from the vessel, which will be analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.

The vessel was allegedly being escorted by personnel of the Police Marine Unit, Delta State, who claimed they were acting on directives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Abuja. The police personnel are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in the oil theft.

The Head of the Special Prosecution Team of the Inter-Agency Task Force, Omar Sini, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to dismantle crude oil theft networks in the Niger Delta. He assured that all findings would be thoroughly examined and prosecuted in line with the law.

The government’s efforts to combat oil theft have started to pay off, with Nigeria’s crude oil output increasing from 1.4 million to 1.8 million barrels per day.