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Nigerian Army troops dismantle a suspected illegal bunkering network in Lagos, arresting six suspects during an intelligence-led operation in the Orile General Area.
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Security forces recover four trucks, a pumping machine, and assorted pipes and drums allegedly used for the illegal siphoning, storage and transportation of petroleum products.
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The arrested suspects and all recovered exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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The General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, orders intensified operations against oil theft and economic sabotage across Lagos and neighbouring states.
July 29, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Nigerian Army have dealt another blow to oil theft and economic sabotage with the dismantling of a suspected illegal bunkering network in the Orile General Area of Lagos State, arresting six suspects and recovering trucks and equipment allegedly used for illicit petroleum operations.
THEWILL reports that the operation was conducted by troops of the 65 Battalion under the command of the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected oil thieves operating within the area.
The intelligence-led raid culminated in the successful takeover of the suspected illegal bunkering site and the arrest of six individuals believed to be members of the criminal network.
In a statement made available to THEWILL on Wednesday, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, disclosed that troops recovered four trucks, a pumping machine, and assorted pipes and drums allegedly used for the illegal siphoning, storage and transportation of petroleum products.
According to the Army, the arrested suspects and all recovered exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and commitment in disrupting the activities of economic saboteurs.
He charged personnel of the Division to sustain the momentum in the ongoing campaign against illegal bunkering, crude oil theft and other forms of criminality that threaten Nigeria’s economic assets and critical infrastructure.
Babalola also reiterated the Army’s determination to work closely with other security agencies to deny criminal elements the freedom to operate within the Division’s Area of Responsibility, stressing that intelligence-driven operations would continue across Lagos and neighbouring states.
The latest operation forms part of the Nigerian Army’s intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft, illegal petroleum refining and other economic crimes that continue to drain national revenue and undermine the country’s energy sector.
While large-scale crude oil theft has traditionally been concentrated in the Niger Delta, security agencies have increasingly uncovered illegal petroleum storage, transportation and distribution networks in Lagos and other coastal states, signalling the expansion of organised oil theft syndicates beyond conventional hotspots.
Authorities have warned that illegal bunkering not only deprives the nation of billions in oil revenue but also poses significant environmental, safety and security risks through pipeline vandalism, oil spills and explosions.
Army, NSCDC Deepen Joint Operations
The Nigerian Army has continued to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks engaged in oil theft and protecting critical national infrastructure.
Security authorities maintain that sustained intelligence-led operations, coupled with inter-agency cooperation, remain central to the Federal Government’s broader strategy to curb economic sabotage, safeguard petroleum assets and boost Nigeria’s oil production and revenue generation.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
