Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have dismantled a suspected illegal bunkering operation in the Orile General Area of Lagos State, arresting six suspects and recovering vehicles and petroleum products believed to be connected to the illicit activity.

The operation was carried out on July 16 following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected economic saboteurs operating within the area.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya.

According to Yahaya, the troops launched a carefully coordinated raid on the suspected illegal bunkering site after acting on the intelligence, leading to the arrest of six individuals allegedly involved in the operation.

He said the soldiers recovered four drums during the raid, two of which contained suspected illegally refined petroleum products.

The operation also led to the seizure of a white Ford bus and a tanker, both believed to have been used in carrying out the illegal bunkering activities.

Yahaya stated that the suspects, along with all recovered exhibits, were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Reacting to the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their professionalism, prompt response and effective execution of the intelligence-led mission.

He noted that the operation demonstrated the division’s determination to safeguard critical national assets and deny criminal elements the opportunity to engage in economic sabotage within its area of responsibility.

“The achievement reflects the Division’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and denying criminal elements the freedom to operate within the 81 Division Area of Responsibility,” Babalola said.

The GOC urged military personnel to sustain ongoing operations against illegal bunkering and other forms of criminality, while encouraging members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting the nation’s economic resources and improving security.

Troops of 65 Battalion have dismantled a suspected illegal bunkering site in the Orile General Area of Lagos State, arrested six suspects and recovered items linked to the illicit activity.

Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 81 Division Nigerian Army, said in a statement on Saturday night that the operation, conducted on July 16, 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities of suspected economic saboteurs operating within the area.

“Acting swiftly on the information, the troops carried out a targeted raid on the suspected site and apprehended six individuals believed to be involved in the illegal bunkering operation,” the statement said.

Items recovered included four drums, two of which contained suspected illegally refined petroleum products, a white Ford bus and a tanker suspected to have been used in support of the illicit activity.

The suspects and recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, by the Commanding Officer, 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo, for further investigation and necessary legal action.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their swift response, professionalism and successful execution of the operation.

He noted that the achievement reflects the Division’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and denying criminal elements the freedom to operate within the 81 Division Area of Responsibility.

The GOC further urged troops to sustain the momentum in ongoing operations and encouraged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies.

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a stolen motorcycle following an alleged attack on a commercial motorcyclist in the Apata area of Ibadan.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, the command received credible information from a public-spirited citizen that a commercial motorcyclist, identified as Muhammadu Kamilu, had been attacked by a passenger who allegedly struck him with an iron hammer before making away with his Bajaj Boxer motorcycle.

The police said operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) were immediately deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Shafiu Nuhu, and the recovery of the stolen Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with registration number AJW 842 QU. An iron hammer allegedly used in the attack was also recovered.

The command said the commercial motorcyclist sustained injuries during the assault. It added that Nathaniel Ibrahim, a helpful passerby who attempted to rescue the victim, was also injured.

Both men were taken to a nearby hospital, where they received medical attention.

Police further disclosed that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to operating as a lone armed robber who specialised in attacking and robbing commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan and its environs.

“Investigation is ongoing to determine his possible involvement in other similar criminal activities and to recover any additional exhibits connected to his operations,” the command said.

Commending the successful operation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, praised the courage of the Good Samaritan and members of the public whose timely information aided the arrest.

He also urged residents to remain security-conscious and continue supporting the police by reporting suspicious persons and activities through the appropriate channels.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, assuring residents that it would continue to deploy intelligence-led and proactive policing strategies to identify, arrest and prosecute criminal elements.