Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in synergy with sister security agencies have successfully dismantled 19 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region, arresting 20 suspected oil thieves and recovering over 589,000 litres of stolen products.
The latest feat followed the army’s sustained anti Crude Oil Theft operations in the region, conducted between 19 and 25 May 2025.
In Rivers State, around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi Forests in Abua/Odual Local Government Area (LGA), the troops uncovered several illegal refining sites, eight cooking ovens and massive storage facilities filled with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
They also uncovered over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil, seven reservoirs, six receivers and a generator were recovered.
Relatedly, at the fringes of the Imo River, nine illegal refining sites were taken out, with 23 drum pots, 10 drum receivers, 321 sacks and over 16,000 litres of stolen products handled in consonance with operational mandate.
A statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma disclosed that the troops also projected operations into Ndoni at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, where 245 sacks filled with 12,500 litres illegally refined AGO were recovered.
Similar operations conducted around Ogbonga Forest in Bonny LGA, saw the arrest of a suspected oil thief with a fibre hand pulled boat and a 400 meters hose, evidently stained with crude oil, as well as four spanners, a mobile phone among several other items recovered.
In Delta State, the troops uncovered an illegal refining site at Jeddo in Okpe LGA, where over 1,000 litres of stolen products stored in polythene bags were recovered. Likewise, at Ogbu Aladja in Warri South LGA, troops deactivated a number of illegal refining sites with several sacks filled with unquantified illegally refined AGO recovered.
Lt. Col. Danjuma further disclosed that the troops in Bayelsa State, dismantled an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, with four cooking ovens, drums and receivers destroyed, as well as several litres of stolen products confiscated.
In Akwa Ibom State, the troops dominated both the land, waterways and the Creeks, effectively denying economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action.
Lt. Col. Danjuma, however disclosed that all the apprehended suspects were handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while the confiscated products were handled in line with the extant operational mandate.
He echoed the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah reassurance to the troops of 6 Division, stressing that the Nigerian Army will continue to intensify efforts at identifying other illegal refining sites and ensure they are dismantled.
The GOC however maintained that he would continue to engender an enabling environment for legitimate exploration activities to thrive in the region.
