OGBOINBIRI, Bayelsa State, Nigeria — The Nigerian Navy has arrested three suspected pipeline vandals in Ogboinbiri Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, during a targeted anti-oil theft operation under Operation Delta Sentinel, following the vandalism of the Oando–Ondewari pipeline.
According to an official statement issued on Friday, June 12, 2026, in Abuja, by the Director of Naval Information, Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, the arrests followed a joint intelligence-led operation conducted by naval personnel in collaboration with a private pipeline surveillance outfit after reports of a deliberate breach along the pipeline corridor.
Naval authorities said operatives of Operation Delta Sentinel acted on actionable intelligence and carried out a targeted raid in the early hours of Friday, June 12, 2026, at a suspected hideout in Ondewari Community, where the three suspects were apprehended.
A subsequent inspection by the Navy confirmed that the Oando–Ondewari crude oil pipeline had been vandalized, resulting in crude oil spillage and posing what officials described as a serious threat to Nigeria’s critical energy infrastructure and the environment in the affected riverine area.
Speaking on the operation, Captain Folorunsho said: “Preliminary investigations established their involvement in the act of vandalism, while further inquiries revealed that a fourth suspect remains at large.”
He further stated that security agencies are continuing efforts to track down the fleeing suspect and complete investigations into the criminal network allegedly involved in the sabotage.
According to the Navy spokesperson, upon conclusion of investigations, the arrested suspects will be handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution in accordance with Nigerian law.
Captain Folorunsho also reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to sustaining anti-crude theft operations across the Niger Delta. He noted that Operation Delta Sentinel remains focused on protecting vital national assets and dismantling networks involved in crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline sabotage.
In his words, the operation underscores the Navy’s resolve to deny economic saboteurs the opportunity to undermine Nigeria’s economic interests through acts of vandalism and illegal oil activities.
Pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft remain major security and economic concerns in the Niger Delta region, contributing to environmental degradation, production losses, and significant revenue leakages for Nigeria. The Nigerian Navy has in recent months intensified surveillance and intelligence-driven raids under Operation Delta Sentinel across oil-producing states including Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom.
As of the time of this report, the identities of the three arrested suspects have not been publicly disclosed by authorities, while investigations remain ongoing.
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