Ele Wada
The Nigerian Armed Forces intercepted crude oil theft valued at about ₦8.9 billion in 2025, as part of wider nationwide operations that led to the arrest of thousands of criminal suspects and the rescue of kidnapped victims, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops under Operation Delta Safe recovered more than 16.6 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products in the South South, while 503 illegal refining sites were uncovered and destroyed. The operations also led to the arrest of 778 suspects linked to oil theft and related crimes.
Beyond the oil-rich region, the DHQ disclosed that across the country in 2025, troops arrested 4,375 suspects involved in terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, rescued 2,336 hostages and received the surrender of 1,616 terrorists and their family members. Several high-profile terrorist commanders and bandit leaders were also neutralised during the year.
Onoja said the military’s operations combined kinetic and intelligence-led approaches, supported by inter-agency collaboration, to safeguard lives, property and critical economic assets. He added that sustained military pressure had weakened criminal networks, enabled the return of economic activities in affected areas and improved overall security.
The DHQ reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to sustaining operations in 2026 and called on citizens to support security agencies with timely information.