In a significant blow to oil thieves, troops of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.
The operations, which took place from January 6 to 12, 2025, resulted in the destruction of 32 artisanal refineries, deactivation of 14 boats used for illicit activities, and the arrest of 15 oil thieves.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, the recovered stolen products are valued at millions of naira.
In Rivers State, troops conducted operations in several areas, including Bille general area in Degema Local Government Area, where seven illegal refining sites were confiscated, along with over 20,000 litres of stolen crude.
Two wooden boats complicated in the illicit activities were also destroyed.
In the same vein, troops deactivated 10 illegal refining sites along the Imo River stretch, destroying several drum pots and receivers, and recovering over 19,000 litres of stolen products.
These operations, he said, were carried out around Asa, Okoloma, Ukwa, Ozaa, Abiama, Obuzor, Ukwa, and Oyigbo areas.
He said at Odagwa general area in Etche Local Government Area, troops intercepted three boats loaded with over 12,000 litres of stolen crude.
Three suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene in connection to the seizures. Similarly, at Nkisa in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, one illegal refining site with a reservoir laden with over 1,200 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and sacks stocked with over 1,600 litres of crude were handled appropriately.
In another operation, along Ndoni road, troops intercepted one Toyota Bus with Reg No URU 808 XA Imo conveying 18 sacks of stolen condensates estimated to be over 1,200 litres. In Buguma general area, in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, two illegal refining sites were taken out with a small wooden boat loaded with 1,500 litres of stolen crude intercepted and handled accordingly.
He stated that Five suspected oil thieves were apprehended in connection with the seizures.
The suspects have been handed over to the relevant agency for prosecution.
In Bayelsa State, troops discovered one illegal refining site at Baberegbene in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Further exploitation led to the interception of a wooden boat conveying over 1,500 litres of stolen crude. At Emago-Kugbo and Oluasiri areas in Nembe Local Government Area, one illegal refining site was taken out with an unquantified quantity of stolen products recovered.
While in Delta and Akwa Ibom States, troops have continued to maintain visible footprints that effectively denied the economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action in areas.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended troops for their achievements and urged them to continue denying criminals freedom of action in the region.
This, he stated, would ensure an increase in oil production and create a conducive environment for seamless exploration activities in the region.
