Nigerian Army troops have recovered 238,500 liters of stolen crude oil in a series of operations targeting oil theft across multiple states in the Niger Delta region.
The 6th Division of the Nigerian Army announced Thursday that its forces had confiscated the stolen oil in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states. The operation also led to the arrest of five suspects and the dismantling of illegal oil refining sites.
Military officials said the seized equipment used in the illicit operations included pumps, hoses, drums, and boats.
Oil theft has been a significant problem in Nigeria, causing billions of dollars in losses for the country and contributing to environmental damage. The Nigerian military has increased its efforts to combat the issue in recent months.
“These discoveries are the result of our renewed efforts to clamp down on economic saboteurs. We urge the public to provide security agencies with reliable intelligence to track down oil thieves and economic saboteurs,” the Army division’s spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, said.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
