REPORTER’S DIARY: Inside Niger Delta Creeks with Troops Battling Oil Thieves
By Kabir Abdulsalam,
In the quiet, swampy creeks of Edagberi, the sudden thud of military boots shattered the calm. Within seconds, suspected oil thieves scrambled into the dense mangroves—one fleeing so hastily he left a shoe stuck in the mud.
This is the raw frontline of Nigeria’s intensifying war against crude oil theft—a deeply entrenched menace that has turned the lush wetlands of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states into smoky epicenters of economic sabotage.
On a recent media embed, I journeyed with Operation Delta Safe (OPDS)—the country’s multi-agency security force charged with fighting crude oil theft and illegal refining.
What I witnessed was a coordinated campaign blending military grit, strategic surveillance, and community engagement—battling an illegal industry that has cost Nigeria billions of dollars.
The Tactical Warfront
At the Joint Task Force (JTF) Headquarters in Yenagoa, the mission was clear. Surveillance data from Southern Ijaw and Nembe in Bayelsa showed fresh heat signatures—indicating newly activated illegal refining sites.
“Gentlemen, this is not a ceremonial visit,” a senior officer warned. “You will see the true face of economic sabotage today.”
Operation Delta Safe isn’t just the military—it is an extensive coalition: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, EFCC, Immigration, Customs, and Defense Intelligence Agency.
At the helm, Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, represented by Maritime Component Commander Commodore Patrick Meteke, emphasized a change in tactics.
“Nigeria was losing over 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily in 2022—roughly $4 million a day,” he said. “This is no longer a containment strategy; it is a surgical war.”
And the results are telling. In just five months, OPDS dismantled 570 illegal refineries, seized 1.5 million litres of stolen crude, and arrested 681 suspects. Many are already undergoing prosecution; some have been convicted.
Nigeria’s oil production, once stifled by vandalism, has climbed to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day—steadily approaching President Bola Tinubu’s target of two million barrels per day.
Guns and Grace: The Dual Approach
Yet, Rear Admiral Madugu is clear: brute force alone will not secure the Delta.
“We are not just bombing bunkers—we are building trust,” he explained.
Through non-kinetic operations—like borehole drilling, school renovations, and medical outreaches—OPDS is turning former safe havens for oil thieves into hubs of cooperation. Locals now supply valuable intelligence that leads to the destruction of long-protected bunkering rings.
At Adibawa Well 8, an abandoned Agip oil facility turned into an illegal refining base, we saw firsthand the results of this community-military alliance. Charred tanks and abandoned hoses told the story of criminal disruption.
Lt. Colonel M.S. Kaigama, Commander of the 16 Brigade Garrison, led journalists through the remains.
“They thought they could hide here,” he said. “But we returned, over and over, until they ran.”
The Aerial Advantage
Above the creeks, the Nigerian Air Force is striking with surgical precision. Group Captain Abdulhafeez Opaleye, Commander of the 115 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt, detailed how air surveillance has reshaped the battlefield.
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Between January and May 2025, the Air Force flew 172 missions, neutralizing 49 cooking sites, 16 boats, and over 20 reservoirs used by oil thieves. Using advanced helicopters like the T-129 Atak and EC-135, they monitor and strike targets—often without ground troops stepping in.
“Our goal is zero civilian casualties,” said Opaleye. “Every target is verified—accuracy is everything.”
But he also warned: “Until there are jobs and amenities, we are only treating the symptoms, not the disease.”
The Maritime Frontline
On the waterways, NNS SOROH—under the Nigerian Navy—has intensified patrols. Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami said the Navy has destroyed over two million litres of stolen crude and 1.8 million litres of illegally refined AGO in the past year alone.
Pipeline protection has improved significantly, now nearing 99% in some areas.
“This is not just about destroying sites—it is about defending national integrity,” he stressed. “And we need continued funding and inter-agency synergy to sustain this momentum.”
In the Belly of the Warzone
The media team journeyed through a maze of creeks under heavy escort. Gunboats sliced through the mangrove-lined waterways, their mounted weapons a constant reminder that this was more than a patrol—it was a frontline.
From hidden sabotage to environmental devastation, the scenery alternated between rustic villages and ghostly remains of bunkering camps. We passed children laughing beside women selling smoked fish—daily life stitched into the fabric of a warzone.
“This area is notorious for sea robbery too,” an officer noted. “Oil theft, piracy—they go hand in hand.”
An Industry of Shadows
The scale of the crime is staggering. According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the nation lost $3.2 billion to oil theft in 2023 alone.
Data from the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) shows that over 630 million barrels were stolen between 2009 and 2020—translating to a loss of N16.25 trillion.
The theft is systematic. Commodore Meteke was blunt: “We have arrested traditional rulers, local leaders, and even uniformed personnel. This is a business empire, not just a crime ring.”
Private security contractors such as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and PINL, through platforms like the Joint Arms Boarding Team (JABT) and Operation PLUG, are enhancing coordination, intelligence sharing, and rapid response alongside government forces.
Last Line
My journey through the creeks of the Niger Delta revealed more than just burnt tanks and fleeing suspects. It exposed a nation grappling with economic hemorrhage and environmental decay—but also fighting back with resolve, strategy, and inter-agency collaboration.
The troops I encountered were not just enforcing law; they were reclaiming national dignity. The communities, once alienated, are now becoming allies. And the message is unmistakable: the era of impunity is being dismantled.
Nigeria’s war against oil theft cannot be won by bullets alone. Long-term victory demands political will, judicial accountability, grassroots empowerment, and a rethinking of how the region’s resources benefit its people.
As our gunboats turned toward base, the fading glow of a destroyed illegal refinery marked a small but significant victory. The creeks may seem calm for now—but the war continues.
Kabir Abdulsalam is a journalist based in Abuja. He can be reached via: [email protected].
