Troops nab 10 oil thieves, dismantle 37 illegal refining sites in N’Delta

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have in a major crackdown on oil thieves, arrested 10 suspects and dismantled 37 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.

The operation, which took place from December 16 to 22, 2024, was conducted in collaboration with other security agencies. During the operation, the troops also confiscated over 130,000 litres of stolen products, including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).

Confirming the development in a statement, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the suspects are currently being interrogated, and will be handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.

According to him, the dismantled 37 illegal refining sites, which were located in various parts of the Niger Delta, including Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, were used to refine stolen crude oil and produce illegal petroleum products.

He noted that in Rivers State, around Obiafu in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) LGA, a cluster of nine illegal refining sites with 176 cooking drums and several pumping machines were destroyed. He said: “Additionally, two mobile phones, several locally constructed dumps, stocked with over 60,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.

“These include about 50,000 litres of stolen crude, 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 6,250 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and the arrest of four suspected oil thieves.

“In Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, a large boat was also deactivated with over 24,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

“Meanwhile, around Bille and Bakana general areas in Degema LGA, three illegal refining sites, two wooden and one fibre boats, were intercepted with over 6,000 and 5,000 litres of stolen crude respectively, as well as 5,000 litres of illegally refined DPK recovered.

“At Ozorchi Forest in Abua/Odual, four illegal refining sites with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were handled.

“Clearance operations conducted along Imo River led to the deactivation of eight illegal refining sites, 50 drum pots, 65 metal container receivers as well as over 5,000 litres of stolen products.

“In separate operations conducted in Bayelsa State, around Kunsho Creek in Southern Ijaw, one illegal refining site with 2,000 litres of stolen crude was handled appropriately.

“At Kumbo 4 Flow line in Ekeremor LGA, troops thwarted an attempt to compromise Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline.” The vandals, he said, fled and abandoned 18 inch pipes and three gas cylinders at the site.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma added that troops in Delta State also intercepted a tanker truck positioned to siphon crude oil from Platform Petroleum Limited Pipeline at Obiukwole Community in Ethiope East LGA. According to him, a blue hose laid into the bush linking the pipeline to the tanker truck in preparation to steal was discovered by troops. 000º

In addition, four suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene. While in Akwa Ibom, troops have continued to dominate both the hinterland and waterways to ward off criminal activities in the state.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their achievements and charged them to sustain the tempo against oil thieves. He reassured that criminals will not be allowed freedom of action to have any foothold in the region.