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Nigeria: FG Renews War on Oil Bunkering, Commissions Eight Gunboats 

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Nigeria: FG Renews War on Oil Bunkering, Commissions Eight Gunboats 

Nigeria: FG Renews War on Oil Bunkering, Commissions Eight Gunboats 

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has commissioned eight gunboats to fight crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the country to a logical end.

A press statement by the spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Olusola Odumosu on Tuesday said “in her resolve to end the menace of crude oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the nation, the Federal Government through the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has commissioned eight NSCDC gunboats to wage a full scale war against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.”

He noted that the move became necessary to strengthen the combative capacity of NSCDC Anti Vandalism Squad in stemming the tide of huge revenue loss to the Federal Government in the oil sector.

Aregbesola, while performing the official inauguration of the gunboats in Port Harcourt, described the incidences of oil theft as an organized crime ridding the nation of accrued revenue running to million of dollars annually.

The Minister of Interior, said the country in recent past had recorded various occurrences of crude oil theft and reports has shown that the country loses million of dollars daily such that, of the 141 million barrels of oil produced in the 1st quarter of year 2022, only 132 million barrels of oil were received at export terminals; the aftermath results further reveal that over 9 million barrels of oil was lost to crude oil theft. 

He decried the negative impacts of crude oil theft and oil pipeline vandalism in the nation.

He however called on all security agencies to shun Inter-agency rivalries and synergize by supporting the fight against oil theft in order to salvage and rid the nation’s economy of saboteurs. 

The Minister further maintained that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as the lead agency in Safeguarding Critical National Assets and Infrastructure is mandated to use the available logistics provided by the Government to reduce crime rate and by extension take the war against crude oil theft to the camp of the enemies. 

The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, while extolling the role of Government in the provision of necessary logistics to enhance the fight against oil pipeline vandalism across the nation, affirmed that the eight newly commissioned gunboats will boost the morale of the Corps in combating the menace of crude oil theft along the waterways. 

Also Read: Gov. Buni Assures Support to Nigeria Correctional Service

He said: “The NSCDC is generally expected to effectively safeguard Critical Infrastructure and oil installations which are very central and vital to the socio-economic development of the nation.

“The Corps is saddled with the mandate to guard against oil theft, illegal oil bunkering through the provision of physical security to oil pipelines against vandalism.

“Therefore, any threat to the oil and gas sector is automatically considered as a high security concern owing to the debilitating effects it has on national development.”

He added that: “It also constitute environmental degradation, pollution, destruction of land and aquatic life, loss of means of livehood and drastic reduction in the inflow of foreign exchange needed to bolster the economy of the nation.”

He affirmed that a marching order has been issued to all Zonal Commanders, State Commandants and Heads of Antivandal Unit across formations to be battle ready with a renewed vigour to stamp out oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the nation. 

The CG reiterated the Corps’ determination and unwavering commitment to the war against illegal oil bunkering and assured the Government and the entire nation that the Gunboats would be distributed to states in the coastal region as the corps continue to collaborate with the military and other security agencies.

He enjoined Nigerians to assist security agencies in winning the war against the enemies of the nation by volunteering credible Intelligence and Information that could lead to possible arrest and prosecution of oil pipeline vandals and saboteurs of the nation’s economy.

Nigeria: FG Renews War on Oil Bunkering, Commissions Eight Gunboats 

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Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

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Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, in a joint operation with operatives of the 63 Brigade and the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a truck loaded with over 164,000 live cartridges allegedly being supplied to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation followed credible intelligence which led to the arrest of a suspected arms courier, Mr Emeka Omenife, along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway on 29 May 2025.

According to the sources, Omenife was immediately handed over to the DSS for interrogation. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to being part of a syndicate involved in transporting ammunition from Ghana to Nigeria for IPOB/ESN operatives.

Following his confession, troops arrested his accomplice, Mr Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate on 30 May 2025, while he was awaiting delivery of the ammunition.The arrest led to the interception of a truck which had the concealed ammunition.

“Upon interception, the vehicle was moved to Onitsha Cantonment, where a thorough search revealed a total of 164,650 live cartridges hidden in four constructed compartments within the cargo bed of the truck,” a source told Zagazola.

The cartridges, believed to have been purchased from Ghana, had Onitsha as their destination, the source added. Further investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and their collaborators.

Zagazola also confirmed from security sources that Omenife had earlier been arrested by troops and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tracking team on Jan. 22 at his residence in Onitsha Housing Estate.

During the January operation, he attempted to flee and was shot in the buttocks before being evacuated to the 302 Army Regiment Medical Services for treatment. He was later handed over to the Anambra State Police Criminal Investigation Department, Annex Akwuzu, for prosecution. His re-arrest in May suggests that he may have returned to the same criminal enterprise following his release in an unexplained circumstances.

Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

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Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

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Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

BY: Zagazola Makama

The police in Benue have successfully repelled an attack by suspected herdsmen on Government Secondary School, Odugbo, while students were writing their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.

Zagazola reliably informed that the attack occurred on 29th May 2025 at about 1:30 p.m., when gunmen opened sporadic fire at the school premises.

The 80-man Patrol Team of the Benue State Civilian Joint Task Force (PMF) Odugbo promptly responded and repelled the attackers, who fled into nearby bushes. No casualty was recorded during the incident.

Combing operations in the surrounding bushes are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing attackers.

In a separate incident on the same day at about 3:45 p.m., suspected armed robbers ambushed and shot dead a motorcyclist, Samuel Iordye, from Nkst Anyiin East at Tukwa Village along the Anyiin to Akwannaon Taraba State road.

The robbers also seized the victim’s motorcycle before fleeing the scene.

Military personnel, police the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Benue Civil Protection Guard, have launched a joint patrol and tactical operation to arrest the suspects.

The victim’s corpse was photographed and deposited at NKST Hospital Mortuary, Anyiin, for post-mortem examination.

Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

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Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

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Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

By: Zagazola Makama

Unknown hoodlums attacked the airstrip of Ashaka Cement Company in Bajoga Local Government Area of Bauchi State on the night of May 29, 2025, leading to the death of one suspect during an attempted robbery.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 11:43 p.m., three hoodlums armed with cutlasses and sticks trespassed into the company’s airstrip.

They pursued two civilian security guards attached to Pilgrims Security Company, who narrowly escaped. The attackers then began cutting down a signal tower used for aircraft control with the intent to steal it.

Security personnel from the company, including a patrol vehicle from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), responded promptly and dispersed the hoodlums.

However, the suspects returned and continued their destructive acts. During a second pursuit, security personnel shot one suspect in the shoulder. The injured suspect was rushed to General Hospital Bajoga for urgent medical attention but was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor. The corpse was deposited at the Public Mortuary.

The other suspects fled the scene and are currently being sought by security as investigations continue.

Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

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