Troops of the Nigerian Army have disrupted a large-scale oil theft operation along the waterways of Lagos, arresting 15 suspects and recovering vehicles and equipment used in illegal petroleum siphoning.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Friday, involved troops of the 65 Battalion under the 81 Division.
Acting on sustained intelligence and surveillance, the soldiers targeted a suspected bunkering syndicate operating along the Lekki–Ibeju coastal axis, near the Dangote Refinery corridor.
Security sources said troops deployed from Bonny Cantonment advanced into the Lekki Free Zone area after receiving intelligence that an active illegal bunkering operation was underway at a creek linked to offshore barge activities.
Upon arrival around 1:30 a.m., the troops reportedly discovered suspects siphoning petroleum products from a vessel offshore.
It was gathered that the stolen product was being transferred through an improvised pipeline system into a tanker truck positioned onshore.
The operation allegedly involved the use of floating hoses, pumping machines, and a concealed offshore barge system designed to move petroleum products from sea-based installations into land-based storage and transport vehicles.
Troops swiftly intervened, halting the activity and arresting 15 individuals at the scene.
However, challenging tidal conditions and strong sea waves prevented access to the offshore barge believed to be central to the operation.
Items recovered during the raid include a Mack tanker truck, a Lexus RX 350 SUV, a Ford Ranger pickup, a pumping machine, a 40-horsepower Yamaha speedboat engine, and a large quantity of industrial hose pipes suspected to have been used for the illicit transfer.
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Sources indicated that the operation followed earlier intelligence reports of suspicious movements and illegal connections within the Lekki Free Zone, pointing to possible siphoning from high-value industrial supply points.
All suspects and recovered items are now in military custody as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the network, including offshore collaborators and land-based logistics operators.
The military said preliminary findings will determine the scale of losses, ownership of the vessels involved, and whether there was any collusion with external actors operating along the maritime corridor.
Meanwhile, security forces have intensified surveillance across coastal routes and key industrial zones in Lagos as part of broader efforts to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal petroleum diversion.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustained operations aimed at dismantling bunkering syndicates and disrupting the logistics chains supporting such criminal activities in the region.