Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested 15 suspected oil thieves in the Ibeju Lekki axis of Lagos State after foiling an attempt to siphon crude oil from a vessel supplying the Dangote Refinery.
The suspects were apprehended in the early hours of Friday by soldiers from Headquarters 9 Brigade alongside the 65 Battalion, following credible intelligence.
They were reportedly caught while trying to connect pipes to a crude oil discharge point from a vessel delivering supplies to the refinery.
Military sources said the vessel was actively offloading crude meant for the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) when the suspects moved in to carry out the illegal operation.
“The suspects were intercepted while attempting to tap into the discharge point,” the report noted.
The operation led to the arrest of all 15 suspects and the recovery of several items believed to have been used for the activity, including a Mack tanker truck, a Lexus RX 350 SUV, and a Ford Ranger pick-up truck.
Security agencies have continued to tighten surveillance around critical oil infrastructure, particularly facilities linked to the Dangote Refinery, as part of efforts to curb crude oil theft and protect national assets.
The suspects are currently in custody and are expected to be handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
