The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a key suspect linked to the theft of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) valued at ₦1.02 billion and recovered assets worth over ₦300 million connected to the crime.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this during a briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, stating that the arrest followed a petition from MEA Energy over alleged conspiracy and large-scale diversion of petroleum products.
According to him, operatives launched a discreet investigation after receiving the complaint, combining intelligence gathering with surveillance operations to track down those involved.
The suspect, aged 38, was eventually arrested in Delta State after fleeing Lagos in an attempt to avoid capture. Police said the operation followed about 12 days of coordinated tracking across state lines.
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Tijani explained that the suspect was successfully apprehended through inter-state collaboration by police operatives, adding that the suspect later confessed during interrogation.
He further revealed that the suspect led investigators to recover cash and properties valued at more than ₦300 million, believed to be proceeds from the illegal diversion of petroleum products.
The police commissioner noted that efforts are ongoing to arrest a second suspect still at large, while assuring that all those involved will be prosecuted upon completion of investigations.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over large-scale fuel theft and economic sabotage within Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network, with authorities intensifying efforts to curb such crimes.
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