Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have arrested 28 suspected oil thieves and deactivated four illegal refining sites.

The operations, conducted between October 6 and 19, 2025, also resulted in the seizure of over 290,000 litres of stolen products across the region.

The military operation was carried out across multiple states in the Niger Delta, with several successes recorded in Rivers State.

During the operations, troops intercepted two wooden boats at Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) while loading Premium Motor Spirit from a vessel offloading the product at a jetty.

Two boats were intercepted, with one loaded with over 33,000 litres of stolen products at a jetty in Okrika, and another wooden boat loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen products.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, the operations were part of the ongoing Anti-Crude Oil Theft operations in the Niger Delta Region.

Danjuma explained that following a tip-off on illegal oil bunkering activities around a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, troops swung into action and impounded a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU coming out of the pipeline right of way.

According to him, the vehicle was suspected to have loaded about 90,000 litres of stolen products from the site, and two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, were taken into custody, while at Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, over 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered.

He stated that along Imo River, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and seized three drum pots, three receivers, and over 2,500 litres of stolen crude around Obuzor, Asa Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, while at Orashi River waterside, two wooden boats were intercepted with over 700 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene recovered and Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.

Meanwhile, in Delta State, Danjuma noted that troops acted on credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves along the PAN Ocean Pipeline right of way in Ethiope East LGA. On sighting troops, the criminals fled.

However, one suspect was arrested and various items recovered. These included vandalised pipes, hoses, a large quantity of Bagco sacks, and leather materials. Others included one Peugeot 406 car, a Camry car, one Toyota Jeep, as well as a lorry van loaded with over 1,650 litres of stolen products.

Additionally, troops on pipeline surveillance along the Midwestern Oil and Gas Pipeline right of way at Umusan-Obodogwa in Ndokwa West LGA intercepted a Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number Enugu VE 174 ENU conveying 24 pieces of 14-inch pipes and three gas cylinders. Two people were arrested.

He said: “The pipes may have been vandalised from the SEPCO Oil and Gas pipeline at Kwale. Furthermore, around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Delta PTN 926 XA was intercepted, loaded with ten drums filled with 2,500 litres of condensates. The driver was arrested.

“In Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, troops have scaled up both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, effectively dominating the operational landscape and thereby denying criminal elements the freedom of action.”

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, has commended the troops for the exploits recorded. The GOC further charged them to sustain the operational tempo in clamping down on economic saboteurs and other associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.