In a major blow to oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in a series of operations conducted across the region.

The operations, which took place from March 24 to 30, 2025, were part of an ongoing crackdown against Crude Oil Theft (COT) and associated crimes.

The troops collaborated with sister agencies to confiscate over 60,000 liters of stolen products and other items.

In a statement, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, noted that the operations were carried out across the Joint Operations Area (JOA) in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states.

He revealed that troops intercepted an inbuilt fabricated twin tank stocked with 18,000 liters of stolen products along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A MAN Diesel container body truck conveying stolen items was also intercepted, but the suspects fled on sighting troops.

He added that several illegal refining sites, drum pots, and receivers were dismantled, while over 15,000 liters of stolen products were recovered along the Imo River.

He also stated that other seizures were made around Ebocha, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

In a similar operation, troops closed up on oil thieves at Jelikri Creek in Degema Local Government Area, dismantling several illegal refining sites.

Danjuma further noted that troops discovered two illegal refining sites containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 liters of stolen crude in Bayelsa State.

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He said, “In Bayelsa State, operations conducted yielded the desired outcome. This was evident around Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, where two illegal refining sites, containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks. At Okighene in Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site with over 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) recovered.”

In Delta State, the operations yielded visible results, with troops confiscating several jerricans filled with illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and destroying several cellophane bags used for the criminal activity.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and charged them to upscale the crackdown against oil thieves.

Major General Emekah warned oil thieves to turn a new leaf and engage in legitimate means of livelihood or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

He also assured Nigerians that the Nigerian Army would continue to work tirelessly to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure and resources.