Army dismantles 43 illegal refineries in Niger Delta, arrests suspects

Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division have successfully arrested 19 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 43 illegal crude oil refining sites across the Niger Delta region.

The Army also seized approximately 260,000 litres of stolen crude oil products during operations carried out in four states.

The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6th Division, Jonah Danjuma, made this disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Danjuma explained that the operations, conducted between November 4 and 10, took place in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta states. This was part of an intensified effort to combat oil bunkering and illegal refining activities in the region.

“In the operations, troops dismantled over 43 illegal oil bunkering hubs, arrested 19 economic saboteurs, and seized over 260,000 litres of stolen products. Additionally, 11 vehicles, 21 boats, and 11 motorcycles used for crude theft were immobilised,” the statement read.

According to the Army, in Rivers State alone, troops dismantled seven active illegal refining hubs in the Abesa and Kula areas of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA). Over 60,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were seized.

In separate raids around Cawthorne Channel 1 and the Bille area, several illegal bunkering sites were destroyed. Troops also seized three fibre boats, five wooden boats, and 41,000 litres of stolen products.

In Buguma Creeks, four illegal refining hubs, eight cooking pots, and three boats containing over 12,500 litres of stolen products were dismantled.

Troops also intercepted wooden boats carrying over 10,000 litres of stolen products in areas such as Odagwa, Akwa, Oza West, Oyigbo, Obozur, and Ayama.

Additionally, six illegal refining hubs were shut down in Ogbonga Forest, where over 10,000 litres of crude, storage tanks, and pumping equipment were seized.

In Akwa Ibom, two tankers carrying 96,000 litres of stolen crude were intercepted along the Okopedi Atai road in Ikot Abasi. Troops also seized three Toyota Camry vehicles transporting stolen AGO. The drivers of the vehicles abandoned them and fled.

In Delta State, a tanker truck loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen products was intercepted. The occupants fled when they saw a military checkpoint. Troops also discovered two more tanker trucks, three pumping machines, and hoses used for offloading products from a barge at Willis Jetty in the Enerhen area.

In Bayelsa State, troops intercepted a vehicle transporting 1,500 litres of stolen AGO and arrested three suspects along the Elebele-Emeyal road in Ogbia Local Government Area.

In the Sangana River area of Southern Ijaw, a storage dump of stolen products was destroyed. Three suspects were apprehended with a pumping machine and unmeasured quantities of crude oil at Ashawo Fish Camp.

Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding the 6th Division, commended the troops for their successful operations.

He urged them to continue their efforts in ridding the region of economic saboteurs and boosting oil production in Nigeria.