in a statement on Saturday in Abuja Major General Edward Buba, spokesman of Nigeria Armed Forces, security forces in the Niger Delta region conducted an operation that led to the arrest of 36 suspected oil thieves and recovered 700,000 liters of stolen crude oil in a week-long operation in the Niger Delta region.
Furthermore, Buba said that the troops demolished 51 dugout pits, 24 boats, 21 storage tanks, and over 20 unlawful oil refining facilities.
He stated that security forces seized suspected oil theft proceeds amounting to roughly N637.7 million.
The persistent issue of oil theft in the Niger Delta region remains a significant challenge, as military forces routinely uncover new illegal operations week after week.
This situation presents a significant challenge for the Federal Government as Nigeria continues to fall short of its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota because of rampant oil theft in the country.
According to the March report from OPEC, Nigeria’s oil production has declined further to 1.2 million barrels per day, negatively impacting the country’s revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
Consequently, combating oil theft is essential not only for national security but also for the survival of Nigeria’s economy, experts say.