Troops dismantle 18 illegal refining sites, arrest 17 in N’Delta crackdown

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 18 illegal refining sites and arrested 17 suspected oil thieves in a major operation against oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The operations, conducted between February 17 and 23, 2025, led to the recovery of over 25,000 litres of stolen products and the demobilisation of 10 boats.

Acting Deputy Director of the 6 Division Army, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, disclosed that significant successes were recorded in Rivers State, particularly around Kilometre 45, Idama general area in Akuku-Toru Local Council.

He revealed that troops destroyed two active illegal refining sites and intercepted three wooden boats loaded with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude. In another operation at Ogale Junction, along the Eket-Port Harcourt Expressway, a truck loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude was impounded.

Also, Jonah stated that troops uncovered an illegal oil bunkering dump at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Council, where over 2,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stocked in sacks were seized. At Ogaji-Ama in Bukuma, a wooden boat carrying over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was intercepted, although the suspects fled on sighting the troops.

During a clearance operation at Imo River, two illegal refining sites, 23 drum pots, and 14 drum receivers were destroyed, and over 2,000 litres of stolen crude were confiscated.

In Bayelsa State, the troops dismantled three illegal refining sites at Clough Creek in Ekeremor Local Council, recovering one pumping machine, over 3,500 litres of crude, and two wooden boats. A separate operation in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Council, deactivated another illegal refining site with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude.

In Delta State, the troops intercepted a Toyota Camry with registration number Anambra JJT 876 AE, conveying 16 cellophane bags of illegally refined AGO at Oton Village, Sapele Local Council. Six suspected oil thieves were arrested in a follow-up operation. Along the Ughelli-Patani Expressway, a tricycle carrying sacks of illegally refined products was also intercepted.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain the operational tempo. He stressed that continued pressure would deny economic saboteurs the freedom to perpetrate their activities in the region.