Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have scaled up their operations against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta Region.
The latest achievements, recorded between November 11 and 17, 2024, include the recovery of ammunition, deactivation of 46 illegal refining sites, and confiscation of over 95,000 litres of stolen products.
The Army, in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, said in Rivers State, troops encountered armed vandals along the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, and after a firefight, the criminals fled, abandoning an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
He said large wooden boats conveying over 28,320 litres of stolen crude were intercepted around Obiafu-Ndoni, leading to the arrest of seven suspected oil thieves.
He added that Several successful operations were conducted in the region, including the dismantling of numerous illegal refining sites and the deactivation of several boats around Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area.
According to him, Over 9,500 litres of stolen products were recovered, while 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were confiscated around Tuma and Krakrama in Degema Local Government Area.
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Also, in Bayelsa State, Danjuma explained that troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen products, and seized two boats at Tunu and Clough Creeks in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
“Similar operations were conducted in Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas, resulting in the destruction of several illegal refining sites and the recovery of over 3,000 litres of stolen products,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, troops intercepted a Sienna bus loaded with 28 cellophane bags of stolen AGO/Condensates at Oyede community in Isoko South Local Government Area, while in Akwa Ibom State, several vehicles were intercepted along Ikot Akan community in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, resulting in the recovery of over 2,160 litres of stolen AGO and the arrest of five suspects.
However, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, has reassured that the Division will continue to conduct operations to safeguard critical national infrastructures in the region, clearing the area of economic saboteurs and ensuring an increase in oil output.
According to Danjuma, the suspected oil thieves arrested and products confiscated during the operations have been handed over to the relevant agency for prosecution.
