NSCDC arrest truck with 70,000 litres of stolen crude in Rivers…Army smashes ‘swamp refineries’

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has impounded a truck loaded with 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This is contained in a statement by the NSCDC national public relations officer (NPRO), Afolabi Babawale, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Babawale explained that the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGS SIS) had acted on orders to prevent incidents of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal dealings in petroleum products in the Niger Delta.
According to him, the CGS SIS responded swiftly to an intelligence tip-off and impounded a long caravan truck with an in-built tank fully loaded with stolen crude oil.
“The truck was spotted while in transit around Eleme flyover in Elelewon, Port Harcourt, and was subsequently impounded by the CGS SIS,” he said.
Mr Babawale quoted the squad commander, AS Dandaura, who revealed that his team was quickly deployed to the crime scene.
“Upon arrival, they seized a red-head, navy-blue container truck with registration number AGL574XY.
“The truck was fully loaded with siphoned crude oil illegally drawn from vandalised wellheads and destroyed pipelines.
“However, the truck’s occupants fled as the operatives approached the scene of the crime,” Mr Babawale added.
He confirmed that the exhibits, including the red-head, navy-blue container truck and the estimated 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil, had already been confiscated.
“An investigation has been launched to track down the syndicate responsible for the act of economic sabotage.
“For the record, the exhibits recovered at the point of arrest include A red-head and navy-blue container truck with 10 tyres (Reg. No. AGL574XY), containing approximately 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil,” he stated.
Also, Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in a sustained crackdown against crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
The operation was conducted between March 24 and 30, 2025, in collaboration with sister security agencies, according to the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.
In a statement, Danjuma said security forces also confiscated over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and dismantled illegal refining infrastructure.
He said that in Rivers State, troops intercepted an inbuilt fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen crude along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area. Additionally, a MAN Diesel container truck with registration number LXA 44 XA was seized while attempting to smuggle stolen petroleum products concealed in bags of sawdust. The suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting security forces.