Army detains soldiers for alleged cable theft at Dangote refinery

The Nigerian Army reported on Wednesday that two soldiers accused of stealing armored cables at the Dangote refinery are currently under custody. The soldiers had driven into the facility on Sunday in an Acura jeep but were apprehended at the company’s main gate with 897 armored cables that had been cut to size.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, labeled the incident as “totally unacceptable and highly regrettable.” He confirmed that the two soldiers were indeed in custody.

Nwachukwu's statement read, “The Nigerian Army is deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of two of its personnel in a reported case of theft at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos. This act of criminality, which was prevented by the proactive intervention of vigilant troops and private security operatives on duty at the refinery, is totally unacceptable and highly regrettable. It does not, therefore, represent the ethics and values of the NA. The two suspects have been identified and are currently under custody.”

He went on to explain that the soldiers were hired by a contractor known as Smart, who informed them that he needed to retrieve some cables left behind at the facility. However, upon arrival, Smart sensed trouble, excused himself, and fled the scene, leaving the soldiers behind.

Nwachukwu added that further investigation was ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the soldiers’ involvement in the theft. He reassured the public that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against the culprits, emphasizing that the Nigerian Army does not condone criminal acts among its personnel.

He concluded by affirming the Army’s commitment to upholding discipline, integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior within its ranks.