Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves and seized over 254,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in a sweeping operation across the Niger Delta aimed at curbing economic sabotage in the region.
According to Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, the weeklong operation also led to the deactivation of 14 illegal refineries and the demobilisation of 14 boats used in illicit oil activities. Several vehicles transporting stolen crude were also intercepted.
In one of the major operations at Old Ogorode, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, troops uncovered a large-scale illegal bunkering site. Recovered items included a Ford Bus loaded with 90,000 litres of stolen crude, 74 drums containing 14,800 litres, and a storage tank filled with over 20,000 litres of illegal products. Additional items found included pumping machines, generators, and hundreds of empty drums.
Two suspects were arrested at the site, while a Volvo Canter truck carrying 56 drums of crude (13,400 litres) was intercepted in Amukpe, Sapele, with three suspects taken into custody. Another mini-tanker with 11,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was also seized in Ughelli North LGA.
In Rivers State, troops dismantled illegal refining sites around Ataba, Andoni LGA, confiscating over 80,000 litres of stolen crude. At Eleme, over 80 sacks containing 3,200 litres of stolen products were recovered, while another cooking oven stocked with 3,000 litres was discovered in Okarki Forest, Ahoada West.
Operations in Bayelsa State saw similar successes. At Okordia in Yenagoa LGA, three ovens and refining drums filled with 8,000 litres of crude were dismantled. In Biseni, two sites were discovered with mini ovens and drums holding 5,500 litres. At Clough Creek in Ekeremor, more illegal setups were destroyed.
Lt. Col. Danjuma noted that efforts are also ongoing in Akwa Ibom to clamp down on illegal refining activities, stressing that all arrested suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authorities, while seized items are being handled in line with the operational mandate of the Joint Operation Area (JOA).
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to denying criminals freedom of action and protecting the country’s critical economic infrastructure.
