Nigerian troops have thwarted attempts to steal crude oil and petroleum products worth over ₦545.8 million in August 2025, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced on Thursday.

 

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in Abuja while presenting the military’s monthly operational briefing. He said the feat was achieved by troops of Operation Delta Safe, who intensified operations against oil theft and illegal refining across the Niger Delta.

 

According to Kangye, the troops recovered:

 

619,236 litres of stolen crude oil

 

106,147 litres of illegally refined diesel

 

5,785 litres of kerosene

 

2,650 litres of petrol

 

 

He added that the troops destroyed 97 illegal refining sites and over 488 pieces of equipment, including storage tanks, boats, dugout pits, and cooking ovens used by the saboteurs.

 

“Troops also apprehended 17 suspects across Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa states,” Kangye stated. “They recovered arms, ammunition, explosives, and about ₦1.7 million in cash from the suspects.”

 

The Defence spokesman stressed that the military remains committed to stamping out crude oil theft, which he described as a major threat to Nigeria’s economy and national security.

 

The interception of oil theft worth over half a billion naira underscores the military’s renewed drive to protect Nigeria’s oil assets from economic saboteurs. With the destruction of illegal refining sites and arrests of suspects, security analysts say the crackdown could significantly disrupt the illicit oil trade that has drained government revenues for years.