The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has dismantled 13 illegal refining sites, recovered 300,000 litres of stolen products, and arrested 15 suspected oil thieves following operations across four Niger Delta satates from January 20 to 26, 2025.
Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Danjuma noted that the operations included deactivating 150 locally-made ovens and were carried out in Rivers, Delta, Edo, and Akwa Ibom states.
“Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have continued to tighten the noose against oil thieves with numerous successes resonating across the joint operations area,” Danjuma said. “These successes include the dismantling of 13 illegal bunkering hubs, four boats demobilised, arrest of 15 oil thieves, over 150 locally made ovens deactivated, and the recovery of over 300,000 litres of stolen products.”
In Edo State, troops discovered a vandalised site at Ugo Community in Orhiomwon Local Government Area, where a pool containing 252,000 litres of stolen crude oil was uncovered.
Equipment such as a pumping machine, hose, and pipes were also recovered.
In Delta State, troops intercepted a 30,000-litre DAF tanker truck siphoning crude oil from PAN Ocean Nigeria Limited Pipeline, with over 15,000 litres already stolen before the interception.
In Rivers State, operations along the Imo River corridor led to the confiscation of over 10,000 litres of stolen products.
At Owaza general area, an active illegal refining site was raided, prompting the criminals to flee upon sighting troops. A pump-action gun was recovered during the follow-up operation.
Additional successes in Rivers State included the dismantling of illegal refining clusters at Obiafu Oil Field in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where 10 cooking drums, hoses, and reservoirs were seized. Similar operations in Abalama Community, Asari-Toru LGA, and Abacheke area, ONELGA, uncovered thousands of litres of stolen products, cooking drums, and other equipment. Eight suspects were arrested.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops raided a storage facility in Ikot Abia, Ikot Ekpene LGA, recovering polythene bags filled with stolen Automotive Gas Oil.
In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled two illegal refining sites at Isonogbene, Brass LGA, recovering over 5,000 litres of stolen crude.
General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops’ efforts in curbing oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
“The days of criminal elements masquerading as economic saboteurs and associated crimes are numbered,” Emekah said, urging perpetrators to embrace legitimate livelihoods or face intensified military action.