Troops in South-South Region Seize Stolen Crude Oil Worth N793 Million, Arrest 18 Suspects
In a series of operations conducted last week, military forces deployed in the South-South region of Nigeria successfully recovered substantial quantities of stolen crude oil and illegal petroleum products. According to a statement released on Friday by Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, the total recovery is estimated to be worth approximately N793 million.
The operations, which targeted oil theft and illegal refining activities, resulted in the retrieval of 602,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 64,900 litres of unlawfully refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 12,690 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Additionally, troops discovered and dismantled 44 illegal refining sites, along with various other equipment related to the illicit activities.
Details from Major General Buba’s report indicate that the actions taken by the troops effectively thwarted illegal oil theft totaling about N793,257,250. Various materials and equipment seized included 28 cooking ovens, 8 vehicles, a motorcycle, a tricycle, 4 dugout pits, 48 boats, 3 speedboats, 156 drums, and 34 storage tanks. The operations also led to the arrest of 18 individuals suspected of involvement in oil theft.
In related counter-terrorism efforts in northern Nigeria, the troops reported the neutralization of 118 terrorists, along with the arrest of 97 individuals and the successful rescue of 96 kidnapped victims. Among the items recovered during these operations were 87 weapons and 2,244 rounds of ammunition. This cache included a variety of arms such as one PKT gun, one PKM, one RPG, one automatic pistol, 43 AK47 rifles, along with fabricated rifles and other firearms.
Furthermore, the troops confiscated 10 vehicles, 33 motorcycles, 50 mobile phones, and cash amounting to N778,560, among numerous other items.
The military remains committed to combating oil theft and terrorism, demonstrating ongoing efforts to ensure security and protect national resources within the region.
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