Army deploys fresh troops to oil theft frontline, trains 60 soldiers in Niger Delta crackdown

As oil theft continues to drain billions from Nigeria’s economy, the Nigerian Army has quietly intensified its counter-operations in the Niger Delta, training 60 freshly recruited soldiers specifically to protect oil infrastructure and combat crude oil theft in the region.

The soldiers, drawn from the 89 Regular Recruit Intake, completed the specialised course barely two months after passing out from the Nigerian Army Depot. The training took place at the headquarters of the 3 Battalion Nigerian Army in Delta State, a state that sits at the heart of Nigeria’s oil producing belt.

The exercise was closely monitored by the Commander of 63 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Morounfolu Shonibare, and the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz Haruna, alongside representatives of other security agencies a sign of the multi-agency approach being adopted to secure the oil-rich region.

Investigations show that the seven-week programme, which commenced on January 5, 2026, focused on crowd control, peace enforcement, anti-terrorism operations and internal security duties. Particular emphasis was placed on safeguarding oil and gas installations while protecting civilian lives and property.

Addressing the soldiers at their graduation ceremony on Monday, Shonibare described the exercise as more than routine military training. “This occasion is not merely a graduation ceremony but a proud affirmation of your readiness to uphold the values and responsibilities expected of you as soldiers of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

He explained that the programme was designed to prepare the young recruits for the operational realities of the Niger Delta, especially counter-insurgency and internal security missions tied to oil infrastructure protection.

Shonibare underscored the strategic importance of the region, noting that it remains the economic backbone of Nigeria due to its vast oil reserves. Protecting it, he said, is a national imperative.

“The training you have acquired within the past seven weeks aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy to transform the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment,” he added.

Earlier, Haruna revealed that the course was deliberately structured to sharpen the soldiers’ operational competence in weapon handling, regimentation, counter-insurgency tactics and internal security operations. He stressed the need for sustained collaboration with other security outfits and private surveillance firms, including Tantita Security Services Limited, which has been active in pipeline surveillance across the region.

Urging the troops to embody the battalion’s motto, “Ever Ready,” Haruna charged them to apply the skills gained during the intensive training to real-time field operations. With oil theft and pipeline vandalism still plaguing the Niger Delta where criminal syndicates tap pipelines and run illegal refineries, the deployment of these newly trained soldiers signals a renewed push by the military to tighten its grip on the region’s troubled oil corridors.