Troops from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have dismantled 19 illegal refineries, confiscated 170,000 litres of stolen crude oil and petroleum products, and arrested several oil thieves during operations across the Niger Delta region.
The acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the development on Sunday. He also stated that the troops destroyed 21 boats used for illegal activities.
Lt. Col. Danjuma explained that troops intercepted a Cotonou boat at Okarki, Ahoada West Local Government Area, containing over 34,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
“At Ogbonga Forest in Bonny Island, we uncovered an illegal refining site holding over 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil,” he said.
In the Bakana/Buguma area of Degema and Asari-Toru LGAs, soldiers discovered a large pot containing unidentified quantities of suspected stolen crude oil. In Okrika LGA, troops found an illegal connection on an NNPC pipeline, including a 2,000-meter hose leading to a storage pit with over 20,000 litres of crude oil.
Danjuma noted, “Three receivers, six locally made boats, and 14,000 litres of stolen crude oil were confiscated. At Amoha-Mgbede, we also recovered 211 sacks with 13,000 litres of stolen crude and 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO.”
At Idu Flow Station in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops spotted three suspects vandalizing an Oando pipeline. One suspect escaped into the bush, while another was immobilized. Tools like pliers, hammers, and fabricated pipes used for pipeline tampering were recovered.
“In Akuku-Toru LGA, two suspects were arrested in a wooden boat carrying vandalized pipeline materials concealed under sacks of periwinkles,” Danjuma said. The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for prosecution.
At the Imo River bunkering corridor, troops destroyed ten illegal refining sites, confiscated 13,000 litres of products, and intercepted a tanker loaded with stolen crude oil in Rukpoku.
In Bayelsa, troops deactivated an illegal refinery at Kalabilema, Nembe, and seized 2,000 litres of refined AGO. At Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, they intercepted a wooden boat used for oil theft.
In Akwa Ibom’s Mbo LGA, troops stopped the smuggling of 12,040 litres of premium motor spirit prepared for transportation to a neighbouring country.
In Delta, four suspects were arrested at Koko, Warri LGA, while transporting 35 drums of black oil (7,000 litres) in a Mercedes Benz truck. At Ugbokodo, Okpe, troops found sacks containing over 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Lt. Col. Danjuma also revealed that troops discovered a compromised NNPC pipeline at Idemili, Ndokwa West LGA. Vandals had installed a valve to siphon crude but fled upon sighting the soldiers.
“These operations show our commitment to protecting Nigeria’s resources and ensuring economic stability,” Danjuma concluded.
