of 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 4 of Operation DELTA SAFE, have intercepted a vehicle transporting approximately 1,200 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an anti-illegal oil bunkering operation in Akwa Ibom State.
According to an official statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Headquarters 2 Brigade, Captain Lawal Bala Muhammad, the operation was carried out at about 7:30 a.m. on July 26, 2026, along the Onna–Etinan Road following credible surveillance on a suspected oil bunkerer.
The statement disclosed that the suspect, who was driving an Infiniti Jeep with registration number EPE 937 EY, attempted to evade arrest after sighting the troops. The soldiers pursued the vehicle, prompting the suspect to abandon it and flee into the surrounding bush.
A search of the abandoned vehicle led to the recovery of 40 nylon bags containing about 1,200 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), with an estimated market value of ₦2,256,000.
The Nigerian Army stated that the recovered petroleum products and the vehicle were secured and processed in line with the operational mandate of Operation DELTA SAFE.
The operation was completed without casualties or any reported incident.
The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against illegal oil bunkering and other economic sabotage activities in the Niger Delta, noting that efforts to protect the nation’s critical oil infrastructure and curb crude oil theft remain a key priority.
