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Army destroys 12 illegal refineries, nabs 16 oil thieves

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The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, arrested 16 suspects, and recovered approximately 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

Additionally, the Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, demobilised six boats and intercepted nine vandalised pipelines during a week-long operation spanning Rivers and three other states in the region.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed these developments in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.

Danjuma said, “Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, while consolidating operational gains, have dismantled 12 illegal refining sites, arrested 16 suspected oil thieves, demobilised six boats, intercepted nine vandalised pipelines, and confiscated over 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the joint operations area.”

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He said the operations, conducted between January 27 and February 2, 2025, saw significant success, particularly in Rivers State, where troops intercepted two fully loaded suction trucks carrying 12,000 litres of stolen crude each along the Igwurita-Airport Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area.

He said, “Acting on credible intelligence, troops uncovered a large storage facility in a scrap yard along the same road, seizing over 10,000 litres of stolen products stored in multiple tanks.

“Further clearance operations around the Imo River led to the destruction of three illegal refining sites, 43 cooking drum pots, 23 receivers, and three fibre boats, along with the confiscation of over 4,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. Troops also recovered a locally fabricated double-barrel gun, believed to have been abandoned by fleeing oil thieves.

“Similarly, operations around Mgbede Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area resulted in the deactivation of four illegal refining sites and the destruction of 86 locally made ovens.

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“Additionally, troops discovered a dugout pit containing over 7,200 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,700 litres of Automotive Gas Oil.

“At Ndoni Waterside in ONELGA, troops intercepted over 102 sacks containing approximately 5,100 litres of stolen AGO and Premium Motor Spirit. Another 35 sacks filled with 2,100 litres of illegally refined AGO were confiscated at Agah, while two oil thieves were apprehended in Omoku with 14 sacks of condensates stored in their residence.”

Danjuma added that in Delta State, troops intercepted an abandoned wooden boat containing over 3,160 litres of stolen crude oil within the Ashaka Okpai community water channel, leading to the River Niger in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

Similarly, eight sacks of unquantified condensates were seized along the Oando pipeline near Tuomo village in Bomadi.

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“In Bayelsa State, a suspected oil thief was arrested in the Sagbama Local Government Area with over 1,100 litres of illegally refined AGO. Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, troops continued their surveillance of creeks, rivulets, and waterways to prevent criminal activities.

“The suspects have been positively identified and handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies,” Danjuma said.

Commending the troops for their successes, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, urged them to sustain their operational tempo to create a conducive environment for legitimate exploration activities.

He also emphasised the importance of professionalism and discipline in executing their duties.

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Kano Hisbah Detains TikToker Over Alleged Promotion Of Premarital Sex

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The Kano State Hisbah Board has detained a TikToker popularly known as Namadina Tudunwada over allegations that he promoted premarital sex in a viral video shared on social media.

The board said the suspect was arrested by its Tudunwada Command after officials reviewed a video in which he allegedly presented illicit sexual relationships as a cheaper alternative to marriage, a message authorities believe could negatively influence young people.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Deputy Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Dr. Mujahid Aminuddeen, said the content was considered capable of encouraging immoral behaviour and undermining the moral and religious values the board is mandated to protect.

According to him, investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the publication of the video and other related materials before determining the next legal steps.

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He said the suspect would be charged in court if the outcome of the investigation substantiates the allegations against him.

The incident comes amid growing public debate over the rising cost of marriage in northern Nigeria. While the TikToker has recently used his social media platforms to advocate for lower marriage expenses, the Hisbah Board maintained that the specific video under investigation crossed acceptable boundaries by allegedly portraying fornication as a preferable alternative to marriage.

Dr. Aminuddeen also cautioned social media influencers and other digital content creators to exercise greater responsibility in the content they publish online.

He warned that posts capable of eroding public morality or misleading young audiences could attract legal consequences.

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The deputy commander-general reaffirmed the board’s commitment to monitoring digital platforms for content considered contrary to the moral and religious values upheld in Kano State. He also urged social media users to be mindful of the messages they disseminate.

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21-Year-Old Nigerian Basketball Player Arrested in U.S. Over First-Degree Rape Charge

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A 21-year-old Nigerian basketball player, Daniel Tobiloba Adegboyega, has been arrested in the United States and charged with first-degree rape.

According to court records, the Jacksonville State University men’s basketball player is being held at the Calhoun County Jail pending a bond hearing. Jail records also show that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a hold on him.

The charge stems from an incident said to have occurred on July 29, 2026. An arrest warrant alleges that Adegboyega engaged in s+xual intercourse with the complainant “by forcible compulsion,” in violation of Alabama law.

Adegboyega joined Jacksonville State in May after spending last season at the University of California, Riverside, having previously played for the University of South Florida. He had also signed with Kennesaw State in 2022 but never featured for the team.

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Following his arrest, Jacksonville State suspended him from its men’s basketball team and removed his profile from the university’s athletics website.

In a statement, the university said: “We are aware of the arrest. In response, the individual has been suspended from the men’s basketball team.”

It added that the alleged incident did not occur on campus and remains under investigation by the Jacksonville Police Department. Under Alabama law, a conviction for first-degree rape carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

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Gunmen abduct Catholic seminarian, six others in Enugu

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Heavily armed gunmen on Sunday morning reportedly abducted a seminarian of St Joseph Catholic Church and several other persons in Enugu State.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the Catholic church in the Inoyi community, Affa town, Udi Local Government Area of the state, and abducted the seminarian and an undisclosed number of other worshippers.

According to a video circulating online, the attackers stormed the church premises in the early hours of Sunday while residents were attending morning Mass.

A resident, who did not disclose his name in the video, said it was raining as people made their way to the church.

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“Those who were on their way to the church saw a crowd running out of the premises. They were told that at least seven armed men had invaded the church and abducted some members, including the seminarian,” he said.

The residents said they pursued the kidnappers but were unable to do much because they were unarmed while the abductors were heavily armed.

He said members of the community were willing and able to protect themselves and enter the surrounding forests to search for the kidnappers.

However, the residents, who were gripped by fear following the incident, questioned how they could carry out such an operation without weapons.

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They said even local security operatives in the area were not armed.

The residents called on the state government to intervene and ensure their safety or provide them with the means to defend themselves.

They also lamented that one of the abducted persons was an indigene of the community who had returned home to bury his father.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from officials of the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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