Soldiers Shoot Gang Leader in Akwa Ibom Diesel Theft Incident

On a Sunday, soldiers from the 2 Brigade Nigerian Army in Akwa Ibom State shot a gang leader who was attempting to free a suspect arrested for siphoning diesel from Sterling Petroleum Fertilizers Limited. The operation, which aimed to curb criminal activities involving heavy-duty equipment, led to the arrest of a driver.

Following the arrest, local youths barricaded roads and hurled stones at the troops in an effort to free the suspect. The situation escalated into violence, prompting the troops to fire warning shots to disperse the crowd.

The gang leader was shot in the leg and later evacuated for medical treatment. The unrest resulted in vandalism of private vehicles and harassment of innocent commuters.

A dead body was later discovered near the scene, which was subsequently evacuated to the mortuary. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state and urged residents to provide actionable intelligence to security agencies.