In a significant operation, Nigerian military troops have successfully foiled an attempt to steal crude oil and arrested 50 suspected criminals involved in the illegal activity in the Niger Delta region.
The operation, carried out by a combined force of the Nigerian Army and Navy, was executed on Saturday, July 12, 2025, after intelligence reports indicated the presence of illegal oil bunkering activities along the region’s creeks.
According to a statement from the Nigerian Army, the troops intercepted several oil theft operations while patrolling the coastal areas of Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta states. The security forces apprehended the suspects who were attempting to siphon crude oil from pipelines operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Military officials confirmed that substantial quantities of crude oil and theft-related equipment, including pumps and hoses, were seized during the operation. The suspects, who were arrested in the act, are currently being held for further interrogation. Authorities believe the arrested group is part of a larger network responsible for a significant portion of the illegal oil trade in the region.
The operation is being hailed as a major success in the fight against oil theft, which has plagued the Niger Delta for years, leading to losses in revenue and environmental damage. The Nigerian government has been intensifying efforts to curb the menace, which has disrupted the country’s oil production and damaged vital infrastructure.
Military and law enforcement agencies have vowed to continue their operations against oil theft and are working closely with NNPC and other stakeholders to secure the country’s oil assets.
The arrest of the 50 suspects is seen as a victory for national security and the economy, with the military promising to take further steps to ensure that oil theft syndicates are dismantled and brought to justice.
