The Nigerian military has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the nation’s vital infrastructure and cracking down on oil theft, warning that it will not stand by while criminals sabotage the country’s economic lifelines.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, assured Nigerians that security forces remain vigilant in defending key national assets, particularly in the wake of recent pipeline explosions in Rivers State.
“Our field commanders are fully aware of the threats, and they are actively investigating incidents. The military will never sit back and allow criminals to destroy critical infrastructure,” Kangye declared.
He revealed that troops under Operation Delta Safe have made significant strides in tackling oil theft in the South-South region. In the past week alone, security forces have prevented oil theft worth approximately N461.7 million, seizing 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined diesel.
Additionally, the military uncovered and dismantled 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums, and 21 illegal refining sites. Several pieces of equipment, including pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and vehicles, were also recovered.
As part of the operation, 17 suspected oil thieves and other criminal elements were arrested, and a cache of arms and ammunition, along with an extra magazine, was seized.
With oil theft posing a major economic and security challenge, the military has vowed to intensify efforts to dismantle illegal networks, hold perpetrators accountable, and protect Nigeria’s resources.
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