Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have dismantled a suspected illegal bunkering site in the Orile area of Lagos State, arresting six suspects during an intelligence-led operation.
The operation, carried out under the leadership of the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo, followed credible intelligence on suspected illegal oil bunkering activities in the area.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the troops raided the location and apprehended six suspected oil bunkerers.
Items recovered during the operation included four trucks, one pumping machine, as well as assorted pipes and drums believed to have been used for illegal bunkering operations.
The Army said the suspects and all recovered exhibits have been handed over to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and other necessary legal action.
Commending the troops for the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, urged them to sustain the offensive against economic sabotage and other criminal activities within the division’s area of responsibility.
Illegal oil bunkering remains one of the major forms of economic sabotage confronting Nigeria, with security agencies intensifying operations to dismantle illegal refining and fuel diversion networks across the country.