The Defence Headquarters announced on Friday a significant victory in the fight against oil theft in the South-South region, as troops successfully recovered stolen crude oil and related products valued at N2.6 billion.
According to Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, a total of 3,282,250 litres of stolen crude oil, along with 224,050 litres of illegally refined AGO and 5,925 litres of DPK, were seized between January 27 and February 16.
In addition to the confiscation of stolen products, the operation led to the discovery and destruction of 131 dug-out pits, 67 illegal refining sites, and 125 storage tanks. Notably, 104 suspected oil thieves were apprehended during the crackdown.
The fight against oil theft remains a critical priority for the country, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Ogbonnaya Orji, highlighting that over N4.3 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases over the past five years.
In a broader security update, Maj. Gen. Buba also reported significant gains against terrorist elements, with 254 terrorists neutralised and 264 others arrested. Additionally, 73 kidnapped hostages were rescued during operations. Troops recovered a vast array of weapons and ammunition, including 131 AK47 rifles, 18 vehicles, 40 motorcycles, 74 mobile phones, and various other items.
The successful operations underscore the ongoing commitment of the Nigerian military to combat oil theft and insurgency, contributing to enhanced security and stability in the region.
