Army recovers 90,000 litres of stolen oil products, arrests eight

In a significant blow to economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region, troops of the 6th Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have recovered over 90,000 litres of stolen products and dismantled 20 illegal refining sites.

The achievements, recorded between December 23 and 29, 2024, also include the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves and the deactivation of 21 boats used for illegal activities.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, Acting Deputy Director of 6th Division Army Public Relations in Port Harcourt, in a press statement on Sunday, said the troops responded effectively to a tip-off on illegal activities around the Buguma general area in Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA).

He added that the operatives discovered a massive tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat with over 37,000 litres of stolen condensates.

Danjuma revealed that troops had a gun duel with criminal elements at the Ogajiama axis of the Buguma/Bakana general area, also in Asari-Toru LGA.

He said the operation led to the recovery of an illegal refining site, one large pot, and a receiver containing 9,000 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).

He said: “The troops also recorded successes in other parts of the region. In Krakrama Community in Degema LGA, they dismantled two illegal refining sites, seized four fibre and three wooden boats, and recovered about 2,000 litres of stolen crude. At Gbede in Omoku, one illegal refining site was dismantled, and 27 locally made ovens and 31 sacks loaded with over 2,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.”

Furthermore, he noted that troops discovered an illegal refining site at Odagwa – Imo Riverside in Etche LGA, where they recovered two drum pots, a wooden boat, and over 3,500 litres of stolen products.

He also disclosed that at the fringes of the Imo River, seven illegal refining sites were dismantled, and six boats, 122 drum pots, 49 drum receivers, and over 10,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.

Also, in Bayelsa State, Danjuma said troops dismantled one illegal refining site and confiscated about 8,000 litres of stolen products.

In Akwa Ibom State, eleven 280-litre drums loaded with about 3,080 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were intercepted, and an additional 31 drums of PMS, estimated at 8,680 litres, were recovered.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6th Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their efforts and charged them to continue maintaining vigilance in the Joint Operations Area.

He also called on the public to provide actionable intelligence to troops on the activities of economic saboteurs in the region.