Troops shut down over 56 illegal refining sites in major N’Delta crackdown

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have dismantled several illegal oil bunkering networks in the Niger Delta region in a week-long operation conducted between November 25 and December 1, 2024.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the operation resulted in the deactivation of over 56 illegal oil bunkering sites, 88 cooking drums, and 20 boats. The troops also recovered more than 1.2 million litres of stolen crude oil, arrested 17 suspected oil thieves, intercepted seven vehicles, and discovered six illegal pipeline connection points.

Additionally, five motorcycles used in the sabotage were destroyed during the operation.

In Bayelsa State, the troops shut down 15 illegal refining sites located at an abandoned Oando wellhead in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa Local Council, recovering over 755,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

In Rivers State, the soldiers discovered an illegal connection on a 36-inch government pipeline in Kula I, Akuku-Toru Local Council. They also found a ground reservoir containing over 100,000 litres of stolen products and apprehended three suspects linked to the operation.

Similar successes were recorded in Delta State, where troops chased economic saboteurs to Ugo Community in Orhionwon Local Council of Edo State, arresting one suspect and recovering several sacks of stolen petroleum products.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted over 5,580 litres of petroleum motor spirit packed in several drums at Enwang Bridge, Mbo Local Council, which were being prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, lauded the troops for their operational success and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining the fight against illegal oil bunkering to protect critical national infrastructure in the region.