A personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been killed while two other security operatives sustained injuries following an attack by suspected oil theft operatives during a security operation in the Niger Delta region.
According to reports, the incident occurred when a security team conducting an operation against illegal oil activities came under attack from armed suspects believed to be involved in crude oil theft and related illicit activities.
Sources familiar with the operation disclosed that the security personnel were carrying out enforcement duties when the assailants launched the attack, leading to the death of one DSS operative and injuries to two others.
The injured officers were reportedly evacuated for medical treatment, while security agencies intensified efforts to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The incident highlights the continuing security challenges associated with illegal oil bunkering and crude oil theft in parts of the Niger Delta, where security operatives have frequently faced resistance from criminal networks involved in the illicit trade.
Oil theft remains a major concern for Nigeria’s petroleum sector, resulting in significant revenue losses, environmental degradation, and security threats to communities and government personnel.
Authorities are expected to launch a full investigation into the attack as efforts continue to dismantle criminal networks operating within the country’s oil-producing regions.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not released comprehensive details regarding the identities of the attackers or the circumstances surrounding the operation
