The suspects were arrested in Calabar, Ikom and Ogoja local government areas for various crimes.
The suspect had been detained for child molestation and abuse and would be charged in court.
The spokesman noted that the activities of illegal miners in the country was posing a threat to the economy of the country through sabotage.
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, in the Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom, has seized 9,250 litres of suspected petrol.
The Jigawa command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four suspected armed robbers in the state.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it nabbed two suspects in Jigawa over possessing 24 bags of adulterated fertiliser.
Mr Audu said the defendant paraded himself as a police officer before the complainant and promised to secure a job for him with Nigeria Police.
The 16 suspected oil thieves were involved in illegal refining of crude oil to produce diesel.
Mr Esumobi noted that the PCN enforcement team had been in Kogi for some days as part of efforts to streamline the drug distribution system.
