‎Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested at least 17 suspected vandals, and seized more than 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

‎Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

‎According to the statement, in Rivers State, troops on patrol around Okarki Community in the Ahoada West Local Government Area intercepted a Toyota 4Runner SUV carrying over 1,600 litres of suspected stolen diesel.

‎The driver was said to have abandoned the vehicle and fled.

‎Also in Ahoada West, 23 sacks containing refined products were recovered, while in Degema, a wooden boat transporting petroleum products was seized.

‎At Obiafor in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, soldiers uncovered a vandalised pipeline and recovered stolen condensate.

‎Items recovered included a 250-metre hose, three-inch metal pipes, and six sacks containing 300 litres of illegally refined AGO,” the statement partly read.

‎In Delta State, soldiers stormed an illegal storage hub at Ogwu Community in the Warri South Local Government Area, where a tanker truck filled with suspected stolen diesel and a large storage facility holding over 20,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, were discovered alongside pumping and metering machines.

‎Other items included two empty tanks and a 20,000-litre capacity tanker truck with registration number BEN 223 ZW (Edo State), loaded with over 10,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.

‎In Bayelsa State, raids in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area, led to the destruction of dugout pits and refining sites.

‎A separate operation in Okordia resulted in the interception of a Toyota Camry conveying drums of AGO.

‎At Okordia in Yenagoa LGA, a Toyota Camry with registration number ASB 71 BG, loaded with over 600 litres of AGO, was intercepted.