Troops of the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have dismantled a suspected illegal bunkering site in the Orile General Area of Lagos State, arresting six suspects and recovering equipment and petroleum products linked to the illicit operation.
According to an official signed statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the operation was conducted on 16 July 2026 following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected economic saboteurs operating within the area.
The statement said the troops swiftly carried out a targeted raid on the suspected bunkering site, leading to the arrest of six individuals believed to be involved in the illegal activity.
Items recovered during the operation included four drums, two of which contained suspected illegally refined petroleum products. Troops also recovered a white Ford bus and a tanker suspected to have been used to facilitate the illicit operation.
The statement added that the suspects and recovered exhibits were handed over by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo, to the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Commending the troops for their professionalism and swift response, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, described the successful operation as a demonstration of the Division’s commitment to protecting critical national assets and denying criminal elements freedom of operation within the 81 Division Area of Responsibility.
Major General Babalola urged the troops to sustain the tempo of ongoing operations and called on members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to enhance efforts against economic sabotage and other criminal activities.
