Threats to critical Infrastructure and Oil theft in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: Examination of complexities between Security Agencies and Non-State Actors

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria, known for its vast resources, has faced persistent threats to its critical infrastructure and oil theft. The research objective is to investigate threats to critical infrastructure and oil theft, as well as to examine the complexities between security agencies and non-state actors. Data were collected from secondary sources, and the situation Crime prevention theory serves as a theoretical framework, emphasizing the need to reduce crime through environmental and structural interventions. The findings revealed that some security personnel collaborate with non-state actors, undermining regional efforts to protect critical assets. As a result, the study suggests that security be viewed as a collaborative effort involving the government, private sector, and the entire citizenry, as this will shift the focus from reactive response to crime to crime prevention and partnership building. Punishment must be certain and sufficient in magnitude to serve as a deterrent and government should invest in productive capacities of local communities as this will provide alternative livelihoods thereby reducing the resort to oil theft and the destruction of critical government infrastructure.