National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The Nigerian military has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the nation’s critical oil infrastructure and cracking down on oil theft, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces would not stand by while criminals target national assets.
“There is no doubt that the military will not hold their hands and allow some of our critical infrastructure to be destroyed by criminals. That is why they are there — to protect those critical infrastructures,” Kangye stated.
The assurance follows recent explosions on crude oil pipelines in Rivers State, sparking concerns over sabotage and the safety of the country’s oil resources.
According to Kangye, the military’s field commanders are fully aware of ongoing activities in the region and are actively investigating the incidents.
“The field commanders are aware of all that is happening in the field. So whatever has happened, they will interrogate it and come up with their findings,” he explained.
“It would be prejudicial for me to tell you this is the outcome of their findings while they have not formulated their findings.”
Kangye also highlighted recent successes in combating oil theft, revealing that troops of Operation Delta Safe intercepted stolen crude oil worth approximately N461.7 million in the past week alone.
“Troops recovered 247,629 litres of stolen crude oil and 198,374 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during the operations,” Kangye disclosed.
In addition, the troops discovered and dismantled several illegal refining facilities, including 36 crude oil cooking ovens, 42 dugout pits, 28 boats, 33 storage tanks, 65 drums, and 21 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include pumping machines, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and some vehicles amongst others,” he added.
The military’s crackdown also led to the arrest of 17 suspected oil thieves and the recovery of assorted arms and ammunition, as well as an extra magazine.
Nigeria’s vast oil resources remain a target for criminal elements, with illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism costing the country billions in revenue annually. The Defence Headquarters has reiterated its stance to intensify security measures, ensuring these resources are safeguarded.
“Our troops are fully dedicated to their mandate,” Kangye emphasized. “We will continue to take decisive action against those seeking to undermine our economy through oil theft and destruction of national assets.”
The fight against oil theft and pipeline sabotage remains a priority, with the military pledging to keep up the pressure on those engaging in such activities.
As investigations continue into the recent pipeline explosions, Nigerians will be watching closely, hoping that these renewed efforts will help curb losses and protect the nation’s oil wealth.
