The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).
According to the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, troops have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves and uncovered 27 illegal bunkering sites across the region, recovering over 161,000 litres of stolen products in the process.
The operations, conducted in synergy with other security agencies between May 26 and June 8, 2025, targeted various locations in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states.
In Bayelsa State, troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 connected to an illegal refining site, where five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.
At Biseni Community, Adibawa in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), two illegal connection points connected to the pipeline, linked to an illegal refining site, were discovered, with 19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping machine, and six metallic drum receivers stocked with over 4,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and over 27,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 460 sacks.
In Rivers State, a fibre boat, one wooden boat, and a large wooden barge filled with over 27,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were intercepted, with eight suspected oil thieves apprehended.
He said a wooden boat laden with 18,980 litres of PMS was also intercepted at Dorger Land Community in Okrika LGA, with three suspected oil thieves arrested.
Additionally, an illegal refining site was uncovered at Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, with two cooking ovens, drums, and receivers, as well as over 3,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
Troops also intercepted a truck at Oyingbo with registration number SML 204 VJ, loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude concealed in sacks. At Omoku, close to the waterside, troops intercepted over 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) in 45 sacks.
In Akwa Ibom State, a suspected oil thief was arrested at Ekparakwa along Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA, with 63 nylon bags filled with over 1,900 litres of stolen AGO. Two suspected oil thieves were also arrested along Abak-Ikot Abasi Road in Abak LGA in a Toyota Camry with registration number UJ 804 KJA Lagos, loaded with over 840 litres of PMS stocked in 31 nylon bags.
In Delta State, within Obodo, Ugbukoko, Jatumi, and Obofo Oil Fields, in Warri South LGA, troops discovered two wooden boats loaded with over 3,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 120 cellophane bags concealed in a creek. At the Bennett Ogboloja area, also in Warri South LGA, two illegal refining sites, two ovens, two pumping machines, and a makeshift shop stocked with drums of illegally refined AGO, estimated to be over 500 litres, were dismantled.
At Urakpa Gana waterside in Sapele LGA, four suspected oil thieves were arrested in possession of 57 sacks of stolen condensates, estimated to be over 1,800 litres. Two Toyota vehicles with registration numbers GWA 312 KZ and Delta WWR 675 JU, loaded with 1,630 litres of condensate filled in 47 bags, were also intercepted.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, has lauded troops for their resilience in the ongoing crackdown, urging them to sustain the tempo against oil thieves in the NDR.
