Troops of 2 Brigade Nigerian Army have intercepted a vehicle carrying suspected illegally refined diesel. The operation occurred during a routine patrol along the Onna–Etinan Road in Akwa Ibom State. Soldiers conducted the stop-and-search at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, 26 July 2026. The suspect abandoned the vehicle and escaped into nearby bush. Troops recovered the contraband and the vehicle without any exchange of fire.
The patrol team had received credible surveillance about a suspected oil bunkerer. The suspect was driving an Infiniti Jeep with registration number EPE 937 EY. On sighting the troops, the driver attempted to flee. Soldiers pursued the vehicle immediately. The suspect then abandoned the Jeep and vanished into the surrounding vegetation. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 40 nylon bags containing approximately 1,200 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil. The estimated market value of the seized product is ₦2,256,000. The recovered items were secured in line with Operation DELTA SAFE mandate.
Illegal oil bunkering remains a persistent problem across the Niger Delta region. Criminal syndicates tap crude oil from pipelines and wellheads. They refine the stolen crude in makeshift camps hidden in creeks and forests. The illicit trade costs Nigeria billions of naira in lost revenue annually. It also causes severe environmental damage to waterways and farmland. Operation DELTA SAFE is the joint military task force combating this menace. The operation involves the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force. It was established to secure oil and gas infrastructure across the South-South geopolitical zone. In recent months, the task force has intensified patrols along major roads and waterways. Commanders have shifted to intelligence-driven operations rather than routine sweeps. The military now targets supply chains, markets and logistics networks that sustain illegal refining.
The Nigerian Army has recorded significant successes under Operation DELTA SAFE in 2026. Military officials say crude oil production has risen to about 2.2 million barrels per day. They attribute the improvement largely to enhanced security in the Niger Delta. The task force has reported zero incidents of violent pipeline vandalism in recent months. Troops have dismantled dozens of illegal refining sites across Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states. Naval units have deactivated multiple boats used to transport stolen products. Air operations have destroyed over 130 illegal refining sites in the past year. The military continues to urge host communities to report suspicious activities. Sunday's interception in Akwa Ibom demonstrates the ongoing nature of the threat. Security forces remain on high alert along known smuggling routes. The suspect who fled is still at large. Investigators are working to trace the supply chain behind the seized diesel. The recovered vehicle and products are in military custody pending further action.
