RismadarVoice Reporters, August 14, 2026
In its determination to curb the menace of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, particularly Akwa Ibom State, the Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned two additional suspects, bringing the total to 19 suspects facing trial for alleged crude oil theft.
Those brought before the Magistrate Court sitting at Fulga Road, Uyo, yesterday included Arepade Dominic Ekprese and Benson Ekiokekeme Innocent, who were earlier on the run.
The Magistrate Court, which declined jurisdiction over the matter due to the gravity of the said offence, cited relevant portions of the constitution, on however remanded the suspects at Uyo Medium Correctional facility for an initial period of 21 days.
Our Correspondent gathered that the Federal High Court, which is handling the matter, is on recess, prompting the DSS’ resort to the Magistrate Court for a legal order to detain the suspects pending resumption of the Federal High Court for proper trial.
Our Correspondent also gathered that the alleged offence committed on 9th April, 2026 was busted following an intelligence-driven operation led by Joint Task Force – South-South, Operation Delta Safe (JTF-SS OPDS), which arrested twenty-six crew members and two motorised tankers, namely MT WESTAF and MT MKPODU.
The two vessels were arrested while siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by a major oil company operating on the shore of Akwa Ibom State.
It could be recalled that 17 of the suspects and the two vessels were earlier arraigned before the Federal High Court, Uyo and have been remanded at the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Uyo, pending resumption of the matter in September.
A security source also revealed that the ongoing intelligence-driven anti-oil theft operations across the Niger Delta region is part of the Federal Government’s resolve to shore up the nation’s daily crude oil production, which will in turn increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
