Crime
Nigerian Army Arrests 28 Suspected Oil Thieves, Seizes 290,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Niger Delta
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested 28 suspected oil thieves and seized more than 290,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in a series of raids across the Niger Delta region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The arrests were made during coordinated operations by troops of the Army’s 6 Division in partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other agencies. The operations targeted sites used for illegal oil refining and bunkering in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, the Army said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, troops intercepted trucks, boats, and containers loaded with stolen crude oil and illegally refined products. They also dismantled makeshift refining facilities and recovered large quantities of equipment, including pumping machines, hoses, and metal tanks.
“The suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence about their involvement in illegal oil activities,” said Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division. “Our troops will continue to sustain the pressure on criminal elements until oil theft is completely eliminated from the region.”
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Eric Emekah, the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, commended the troops for their professionalism and urged them to remain committed to the fight against economic sabotage. He said the army will maintain close coordination with other security agencies to ensure the protection of national assets.
Oil theft and illegal refining have long been major challenges in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s oil-producing hub. The government estimates that the country loses hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil daily to illegal bunkering, costing billions of dollars in lost revenue and environmental damage.
In recent months, the military has intensified patrols and surveillance across oil-producing communities to curb the illicit trade. Several arrests have been made, and dozens of illegal refineries have been destroyed as part of Operation Delta Safe, a joint task force operation launched to secure the region.
Security analysts say the latest arrests demonstrate growing coordination among the security agencies. However, they caution that long-term success will depend on consistent enforcement and addressing the root causes of oil theft, including poverty and unemployment in local communities.
“This operation is a step in the right direction, but it must be sustained,” said energy analyst Kelvin Onyekachi. “Beyond arrests, the government should create economic opportunities in the Niger Delta to reduce the lure of illegal refining.”
The seized petroleum products will be handed over to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for proper handling, while the suspects are expected to face prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-bunkering laws, the Army said.
Authorities have urged residents of the Niger Delta to report suspicious activities to security agencies and warned that anyone caught aiding or abetting oil theft will be prosecuted.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s economic interests and ensuring that legitimate oil operations can thrive without interference from criminal networks.
“Oil theft is not just a crime against the state,” Lt. Col. Danjuma said. “It is a crime against every Nigerian whose future depends on the stability of our economy. We will not relent until this menace is defeated.”
The Niger State Police Command has arrested a woman identified as Mariya Abdullahi over the alleged poisoning of her co-wife’s two children.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Takuti community, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims, aged four and nine, were said to have consumed a substance suspected to be poisonous from a cup allegedly given to them by Abdullahi.
One of the children reportedly died shortly after drinking the substance, while the other was rushed to a general hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Abiodun, the suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, claiming that a friend influenced her to poison the children because she could not have a child for her husband.
The police statement read: “On 6th November, 2026 at about 6am, a report was received in Lapai Div that one Mariya Abdullahi of Takuti via Lapai administered some substance suspected to be poison to the children of her co-wife.
“The Police operatives moved to the scene, discovered the two children who were 9 & 4yrs, were given the substance to drink, and as a result, they became unconscious.
“They were immediately rushed to a nearby clinic, but on arrival at the clinic, one of the victims gave up the ghost and the other was referred to the general hospital responding to the treatment.
“The suspect was arrested, undergoing further interrogation. She claimed that she was influenced by a friend to commit the act because she couldn’t bear a child for the husband.
“She will soon be transferred to SCID Minna for diligent prosecution.”
The command added that Abdullahi would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation and prosecution.
Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted that they voluntarily made the written and recorded confessional statements presented by the Department of State Services (DSS).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, who are the first and second accused persons, made the admission on Thursday during cross-examination at the resumed hearing of the case.
Both men confirmed that they willingly gave the audio-visual statements and thumbprinted the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.
The DSS had tendered the statements as evidence, and the court admitted them during the proceedings.
Despite confirming the statements, the defendants appealed to the court for forgiveness and asked to be released. They had earlier made a similar plea while opening their defence and giving evidence on their own behalf.
The two men are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms over the alleged abduction.
Meanwhile, proceedings also continued in a separate case involving two defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
During the hearing, a prosecution witness identified the defendants as the individuals who allegedly abducted him for ransom in Imo State on October 4, 2026.
At the end of Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned both cases until November 6 for further hearing.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested six individuals on its most-wanted fraudsters list following operations conducted across four continents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The suspects were apprehended over allegations involving various fraudulent activities, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who announced the development in a post on X on Sunday.
Patel disclosed that the arrests, alongside other enforcement operations, contributed to the seizure of assets worth approximately $17 billion.
He praised the FBI’s international fugitive-tracking efforts and its ongoing campaign against global scam centres, known as Operation Blackout.
According to the FBI director, the six fugitives had collectively spent more than 4,000 days evading arrest.
Patel said the suspects had apparently believed that leaving the United States and going into hiding abroad would place them beyond the reach of American law enforcement authorities.
“They were wrong,” he wrote, stressing that the FBI and its international partners would continue pursuing individuals accused of defrauding Americans, regardless of where they attempted to hide.
In a separate update on Operation Blackout, Patel revealed that the broader campaign had resulted in the seizure of nearly $17 billion, the arrest of hundreds of suspected fraudsters and the rescue of thousands of trafficked workers.
The operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres, the disruption of online infrastructure used to facilitate fraudulent activities and efforts to identify individuals trafficked into working for criminal networks.
Patel further disclosed that more than 10,000 Americans had received warnings before losing their money, helping to prevent estimated financial losses of about $670 million.
“We’re not just investigating these criminal enterprises.
“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.
The FBI director described the scam centres as criminal enterprises that exploit vulnerable individuals while targeting Americans through international fraud schemes.
He maintained that the agency would continue its efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” Patel added.
Full List Of The Six Arrested Suspects
According to the FBI, the individuals arrested are:
- Manjit Singh Bedi
- Elaine Agene Esco
- Khalid Ahmed Satary
- Herbert Leon Kimble
- Sahid Abdullahi Ereg
- Emylee Thai
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