Nigerian Army arrests nine oil thieves, seizes 156,000 litres products worth N250m
The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division arrested nine suspected oil thieves and confiscated over 156,000 litres of stolen petroleum products valued at more than N250 million during operations across Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states from 1 to 26 April. The troops dismantled 10 illegal refining sites and destroyed equipment used for crude oil theft. Seized items included over 130,000 litres of crude oil and 26,000 litres of petrol. Specific recoveries in Rivers State involved an abandoned truck with 45,000 litres of suspected stolen products along the East-West Road in Ukpeye community, a reservoir holding over 35,000 litres of crude oil in Orashi National Forest, another reservoir with over 26,000 litres of illegally refined petrol, and 17,760 litres of suspected products in 266 sacks at Ebocha and Omoku communities. In Delta State, a tapping point and storage pit containing over 2,700 litres of stolen products were uncovered in Obazogbe community, while Akwa Ibom troops recovered 45 bags with about 1,350 litres of illegally refined petrol in Ikot Ekpene LGA. The army said operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and praised troops for sustaining pressure on oil thieves. Nigeria loses millions of barrels of crude oil monthly to theft, contributing to fuel scarcity and revenue loss that affects national budgets and pump prices. Citizens living near pipeline corridors are advised to report unusual activity, such as unauthorized digging or night-time movements of tankers, to local security hotlines. Will increased community vigilance and faster reporting help deter these illegal operations and protect national resources?