Troops Arrest 237 Suspected Oil Thieves, Recover N241m Products

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that troops on internal operations arrested 237 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen products worth N241,284,000.00 between 10th and 17th July, 2025.

Troops also rescued 139 victims and arrested 49 suspected terrorists, logistics suppliers and kidnappers within the period.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye in a statement on Friday said troops between 18-20 July 2025, arrested a notorious terrorists identified as Muhammadu Hamisu a.k.a. Mamiyo and 5 others during clearance operations in Sokoto.

Items recovered from the terrorists include weapons, illicit drugs, motorcycles, logistics suppliers and the sum of N192,300.00.
Kangye added that troops on 16 July 2025, arrested a notorious extremist, an associate of a violent extremist kingpin terrorising and kidnaping passengers within Federal University Wukari and Road Jootar – Wukari in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.

According to him, another suspected informant to extremists/kidnapper kingpin, Kachalla Shuaibu was also arrested in Kabba-Bunu LGA of Kogi State.

In another development, the director said troops, following an intelligence-led operation conducted in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State on 19 July 2025, arrested a notorious gunrunner identified as Haruna Abdullahi in possession of 350 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

In the fight against oil theft, Kangye said troops arrested 237 suspects and recovered 230,400 litres of stolen crude oil, 13,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 2,500 litres of PMS.

Additionally, troops discovered and destroyed 30 crude oil cooking ovens, 28 dugout pits, 2 boats, 7 storage tanks, 14 drums, 8 vehicles and 14 illegal refining sites.