In a significant feat in Nigeria’s fight against oil theft, the Defence Headquarters announced on Thursday that the military had intercepted stolen crude worth N1.2 billion in the past two weeks. This success comes as Nigeria’s oil production capacity witnessed a substantial increase in September.
During a press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, proudly revealed these achievements. He emphasized the military’s unwavering commitment to neutralizing terrorists and preventing small-scale attacks on soft targets.
Over the course of two weeks, the military’s operations resulted in the killing of 73 terrorists, the arrest of 182 individuals involved in illicit activities, and the successful rescue of 68 hostages. This resolute response has prevented these nefarious elements from achieving their strategic objectives.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba declared, “The military will continue to degrade their ability to carry out these small-scale attacks that aim to sow fear and chaos within our communities.”
Furthermore, the military identified and destroyed 63 illegal refining sites. These sites contained 15 dugout pits, 45 boats, 87 storage tanks, 128 cooking ovens, one pumping machine, and four outboard engines. Additionally, the military apprehended 14 suspected oil thieves.
As a result of these operations, the troops successfully recovered 962,500 litres of stolen crude oil, 35,420 litres of illegally refined AGO, 38,450 litres of DPK, and 45,000 litres of PMS. The estimated value of these recovered resources amounts to a staggering N1,212,046,140.
In recent times, oil theft has posed a significant challenge, leading to a decline in Nigeria’s oil production capacity. However, with the concerted efforts against oil theft yielding positive results, Nigeria’s production capacity has witnessed a remarkable increase in September, reaching 1.7 million barrels per day. This figure represents a substantial rise from the 1.1 million barrels per day recorded in August.
The military’s tireless efforts to combat oil theft and safeguard Nigeria’s oil resources are essential for the country’s economic prosperity. As Nigeria continues to make strides in increasing its production capacity, the fight against oil theft remains an ongoing priority to ensure sustainable growth in the oil and gas sector.
