Suspected fuel smugglers abandon 675 litres of petrol as troops foil illegal deal

Suspected fuel smugglers abandoned 675 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, while fleeing from troops of Operation HADIN KAI during an operation in Adamawa State.

The development was disclosed in a post shared on X on Wednesday by security analyst, Zagazola Makama.

According to the post, the interception took place at about 3:15 p.m. on June 29 when troops of the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion, carrying out Operation Desert Sanity V, intercepted the fuel along the Muva route in Mubi North Local Government Area of the state.

The smugglers were said to have fled into nearby bushes immediately after spotting the advancing troops, leaving the fuel behind. No arrests were made during the operation.

The recovered consignment consisted of 27 jerrycans containing about 675 litres of petrol.

Security sources quoted in the post said the fuel was believed to have been heading to an undisclosed destination and was suspected to be intended for terrorist groups to support their operations.

“The recovered petrol has been taken into the custody of the 247 Reconnaissance Battalion for further investigation and other necessary actions,” Makama said.

According to the post, the seizure is part of the ongoing strangulation operations being carried out by Operation HADIN KAI to cut off supplies to terrorist groups by denying them access to fuel and other essential logistics.