Nigerian troop foils oil theft worth N846m, arrest 302 suspects in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Armed Forces said on Friday that they have successfully foiled a single oil theft operation worth ₦846 million in the south-south region of the country.

According to a statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the military’s efforts also led to the neutralization of 171 terrorists and the arrest of 302 individuals.

Persecondnews reports that among those apprehended, 25 were involved in oil theft, and 134 kidnapped victims were rescued.

The operation recovered 84 weapons and 1,499 rounds of ammunition, including a diverse array of firearms such as one PKT gun, one G3 rifle, three AK49 rifles, 44 AK47 rifles, and several other types of weaponry.

Additionally, troops seized 843 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 506 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 60 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ball-rimmed, 90 live cartridges, 5 Baofeng radios, 11 vehicles, 46 motorcycles, 4 bicycles, 52 mobile phones, cutlasses, and the sum of ₦126,285.00, among others.

In the Niger Delta region, the forces dismantled 98 illegal refining sites, 26 dugout pits, 13 boats, 90 drums, and 45 storage tanks.

They also confiscated 155 cooking ovens, four speedboats, a pumping machine, seven vehicles, and large quantities of stolen and illegally refined crude oil and diesel.

Buba affirmed the military’s commitment to ongoing operations to ensure the defeat of terrorist groups and enhance national security.

“The armed forces remain dedicated to protecting citizens and maintaining safety throughout the country.”