Nigerian Army Arrests 9 Oil Thieves in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Army, under the command of Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, conducted operations from April 1 to April 26, 2026, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects involved in oil theft and the deactivation of ten illegal refining sites across Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma disclosed that the operations led to the confiscation of 130,000 liters of stolen crude oil and 26,000 liters of automotive gas oil, with a total value of N250 million.

The troops intercepted an abandoned truck loaded with 45,000 liters of stolen product along the East-West Road in Ahoada East LGA and uncovered additional reservoirs containing stolen crude oil in Orashi National Forest and other locations. The operations also destroyed several equipment used for oil theft, including pipes and storage pits, demonstrating the Army's commitment to combating economic sabotage in the region.