A routine operation to curb industrial theft escalated into a violent confrontation on Friday, March 27, after local youths attempted to block the Nigerian Army from arresting a suspect caught siphoning fuel from a private company.
The incident occurred at the Sterling Petroleum and Fertiliser Limited Company in Ukpe Ete, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area. Acting on credible intelligence, troops from the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army intercepted criminal elements siphoning diesel from heavy-duty equipment.
According to a statement released by Captain Lawal Bala Muhammad, Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the situation turned volatile during the transport of a suspect and the recovered stolen products.
A mob of local youths reportedly barricaded the road, attempting to forcibly free the driver and seize the exhibits. The confrontation quickly turned physical as the crowd began hurling stones and bottles at the soldiers.
“Efforts were made to ensure the situation did not escalate further, but to no avail, as the youths became more violent,” the statement read.
Despite firing warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd, the troops were unable to restore order. In the ensuing chaos, the army identified and shot the ringleader of the mob in the leg. He was subsequently evacuated to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
The violence did not end with the ringleader’s injury. Following the initial clash, unruly crowds began vandalising private vehicles, harassing commuters along the transport route, and attacking trucks belonging to the petroleum company.
Following a reinforcement from the Brigade and the eventual dispersal of the mob, a search of the area revealed a grim discovery: an unidentified body lying next to a coffin. The remains have since been moved to a mortuary by the Nigeria Police Force.
The Nigerian Army remains on the ground to secure the company’s assets and ensure the safety of law-abiding citizens. While an investigation into the fuel theft and the subsequent riot is ongoing, the 2 Brigade has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Akwa Ibom’s critical infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Major General Abubakar Ahmed, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School (NAAS) in Bauchi, conducted an assessment visit to praise the ongoing efforts of Operation Hadin Kai.
General Ahmed pledged that the school would continue to prioritise high-quality training for armour personnel to sustain the momentum against regional threats. #Securitynewsalert.com
