Nigerian Army Foils Major Oil Theft Near Dangote Refinery

On April 16, 2026, the Nigerian Army's 81 Division conducted a successful operation to dismantle a major oil theft ring near the Dangote refinery, resulting in the arrest of 14 suspects. The operation was initiated in the early hours after receiving credible intelligence about oil theft activities in the Lekki Free Zone area of Lagos State.

Troops stormed the location at approximately 1:30 AM, catching the suspects in the act of siphoning petroleum products. Investigations revealed that the suspects had constructed illegal connections to a long pipeline extending into the high sea, using a concealed tanker and a generator-powered pump to transfer the stolen products.

The operation resulted in the recovery of a tanker truck loaded with siphoned petroleum, a Lexus Highlander SUV, a Ford Hilux vehicle, a 40hp boat engine, and a large quantity of industrial hoses and bunker equipment. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to tackling crude oil theft and urged the public to provide credible information to security agencies.