Oil theft: Troops smash 13 bunkering sites, recover stolen products
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 13 illegal bunkering sites and recovered no fewer than 300,000 litres of stolen products during joint operations conducted between January 20 and 26, 2025.
This was contained in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.
Danjuma said that in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), Rivers State, troops dismantled three illegal refining sites at Obiafu Oil Field.
According to him, the sites, operating in clusters, contained 10 cooking drums, eight reservoirs, and two rolls of hose. Similarly, in Abalama Community, Asari-Toru LGA, troops uncovered jerricans carefully concealed and filled with over 1,500 litres of illegally refined automotive gas oil, AGO, and dual dual-purpose kerosene, DPK.
He added that at Abacheke, also in ONELGA, four illegal refining sites were discovered with 145 locally made oven drums deactivated.
Danjuma further revealed that troops recovered over 9,200 litres of stolen AGO stored in sacks and reservoirs. Eight suspects linked to these operations were arrested.
Also, at Okoromadi in Abua Odual LGA, troops stormed another illegal refining site, uncovering four boilers and receivers, while combing the area for suspects.
According to him, in Edo State, a large pool containing 252,000 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered at Ugo Community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area.
The spokesman reiterated that troops recovered pumping machines, hoses, and pipes suspected to have been used for the operation.
In Delta State, at Asade Community in Ethiope West Local Government Area, he said the troops intercepted a 30,000-litre capacity DAF tanker truck without a plate number, siphoning crude oil from a PAN Ocean Nigeria Limited pipeline.
It was discovered that over 15,000 litres of crude oil had already been stolen before the truck was intercepted.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops raided a storage facility at Ikot Abia in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, recovering over 30 polythene bags filled with stolen Automotive Gas Oil, AGO.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, at Isonogbene in Brass Local Government Area, two illegal refining sites were dismantled, with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil recovered.
While appreciating the troops for their efforts, the new GOC, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, who is also commanding the land component Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, reiterated the Army’s commitment to eradicating oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He warned economic saboteurs to embrace legitimate means of livelihood or face intensified military action.
Oil theft: Troops smash 13 bunkering sites, recover stolen products
