The Nigerian Army has dismantled 12 illegal refining sites and apprehended 16 suspects in a series of coordinated operations aimed at curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The troops, operating under the 6 Division, also confiscated approximately 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and demobilised six boats used for illegal activities.
Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, disclosed these developments in a statement on Sunday. He noted that the week-long operation, conducted between January 27 and February 2, 2025, was carried out in collaboration with other security agencies across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and other affected states.
During the operations in Rivers State, troops intercepted two suction trucks, each carrying 12,000 litres of stolen crude, along the Igwurita–Airport Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area. Additionally, a large-scale storage facility at a scrapyard on the same road was raided, leading to the confiscation of over 10,000 litres of stolen petroleum products stored in multiple tanks.
Clearance operations near the Imo River resulted in the destruction of three illegal refining sites, 43 cooking drum pots, 23 receivers, and three fibre boats. Troops also recovered more than 4,000 litres of stolen products and a locally fabricated double-barrel gun believed to have been abandoned by fleeing oil thieves.
In ONELGA, Rivers State, security forces discovered and seized 102 sacks containing over 5,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) along the Ndoni waterside. Similarly, 35 sacks holding more than 2,100 litres of AGO were confiscated at Agah, while in Omoku, two suspects were arrested with 14 sacks of condensates stored in their home.
Operations in Delta State led to the interception of an abandoned locally built wooden boat containing over 3,160 litres of stolen crude at the Ashaka Okpai community water channel in Ndokwa East Local Government Area. Troops also seized eight sacks filled with an unquantified quantity of condensates along the Oando pipeline in Tuomo village, Bomadi.
In Bayelsa State, a suspected oil thief was arrested in Sagbama Local Government Area while in possession of more than 1,100 litres of illegally refined AGO.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to combating illegal oil bunkering and related criminal activities in the region. Lt. Col. Danjuma emphasized that security forces will continue to intensify their efforts to dismantle illicit refining networks and ensure the protection of Nigeria’s critical economic infrastructure.
These recent operations highlight the ongoing efforts of the military and security agencies in tackling oil theft, a major challenge affecting Nigeria’s oil sector and environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta.
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