Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have between March 24 to 30 2025, arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites
The operations which were conducted across the joint operations area with sister agencies, led to the recovery and confiscation of over 60,000 litres of stolen products and other items.
According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations on Monday, the raid was conducted in Rivers State, along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area (LGA), led to the interception of an inbuilt fabricated twin tank stocked with 18,000 litres of stolen products.
Lt. Col. Danjuma added that a MAN Diesel container truck with Reg LXA 44 XA concealed with bags of sawdust, conveying an unquantified quantity of stolen products was intercepted, noting that the suspects fled on sighting troops.
Highlighting the feats of the troops in other parts of the Niger Delta region the statement states, “Relatedly, along the Imo River, the anti COT operations progressed with several illegal refining sites, drum pots and receivers taken out, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
“While around Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East LGA, two illegal refining sites with over 2,800 litres of stolen products confiscated.
“Other seizures were made around Ebocha, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. Troops also closed up on oil thieves at Jelikri Creek in Degema LGA, with several illegal refining sites dismantled, drum ovens, receivers, hoses, metal pipes destroyed.
“In Bayelsa State, operations conducted yielded the desired outcome. This was evident around Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, where two illegal refining sites, containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks.
“At Okighene in Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site with over 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) recovered.
“In Delta State, the operations are progressing with visible footprints. At Egbokodo Itsekiri Community in Warri South LGA, troops confiscated several jerricans filled with illegally refined AGO and destroyed several cellophanes bags used for the criminality.
“While in Akwa Ibom State, troops have dominated the operations landscape making it impossible for the criminals to have freedom of action.”
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah has charged the troops to upscale the crackdown against oil thieves, and sustain the enabling environment for exploration activities to thrive seamlessly.
He warned oil thieves to turn a new leaf and engage in legitimate means of livelihood or be ready to face the wrath of the law.
