The Federal High Court, Uyo Division, has sentenced nine suspects to 10 years’ imprisonment after the Nigerian Navy arrested them in February over crude oil theft at a wellhead in Akwa Ibom.

The defendants were identified as Michael Olayinka Mebawadu, Gerekumo Duduku, Godpromise Toikee Amijoe, Victor Ita, Owei Godspower, Newyear Orimisan Fiyeboju, Henry Siarerebo Opuowei and Innocent Oluwatimilehin Egbayelo.

In a statement on Friday, the navy confirmed that the suspects were sentenced on Monday to five years’ imprisonment on count one and 10 years on count two.

The navy said that since Operation Delta Sentinel began in January 2026 to tackle oil theft across the Niger Delta, it has destroyed over 241 illegal refining sites.

Also, more than 6.44 million litres of suspected stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products have been recovered, leading to the arrest of over 230 suspects.

The navy maintained that the operations targeting oil theft are part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to increase the country’s crude oil output to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.

“These efforts directly support the policy direction of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, thereby contributing to national economic development and the sustainable growth of the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The Nigerian Navy reiterates that while successful interdictions at sea are essential, their strategic value is fully realised only when they culminate in timely convictions that reinforce the rule of law and serve as a strong deterrent to criminal networks,” the force added.