Army Busts Illegal Oil Bunkering Ring in Lagos, Arrests 15
Troops of the Nigerian Army have disrupted a large-scale illegal oil bunkering operation along the Lekki–Ibeju coastal corridor of Lagos State, arresting 15 suspects and recovering vehicles and equipment used in the illicit activity.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of April 17, 2026, was executed by troops of the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division following credible human intelligence and sustained surveillance of suspected oil theft activities around the Lekki Free Zone axis, near the Dangote Refinery corridor.
Security sources said the troops, deployed from Bonny Cantonment, moved into the targeted creek location after intelligence indicated that a coordinated siphoning operation involving offshore barge systems was underway.
On arrival at about 1:30 a.m., the soldiers reportedly found suspects actively siphoning petroleum products from a vessel stationed offshore. The products were being transferred through an improvised pipeline network into a tanker truck positioned onshore.
The illegal setup, according to the sources, involved the use of floating hoses, pumping machines, and a concealed barge system designed to transport petroleum products from sea-based installations to land-based storage and distribution channels.
Troops swiftly intervened, halting the operation and arresting 15 suspects at the scene. However, attempts to access the offshore barge believed to be central to the operation were unsuccessful due to high tidal waves and adverse sea conditions.
Items recovered during the raid include a Mack tanker truck, a Lexus RX 350 sport utility vehicle, a Ford Ranger pickup truck, a pumping machine, a 40-horsepower Yamaha speedboat engine, and large quantities of industrial hose pipes suspected to have been used in the transfer of petroleum products.
Further findings indicate that the operation followed earlier intelligence on suspicious movements and illegal tapping points within the Lekki Free Zone, raising concerns about coordinated siphoning from critical industrial supply infrastructure.
The suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody pending detailed investigation aimed at uncovering the wider network behind the operation, including offshore collaborators and logistics support elements on land.
Military authorities said preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the theft, ownership of the vessels involved, and any possible collaboration with external actors operating within the maritime corridor.
Security forces have since intensified surveillance along coastal routes and around key industrial facilities in Lagos State as part of broader efforts to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal diversion of petroleum products.
The military also assured that follow-up operations would be sustained to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate and dismantle the entire network supporting illegal bunkering in the region.
By TopHeadlines