In a renewed offensive against oil theft, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has arrested 29 suspected oil thieves, dismantled 24 illegal refineries, and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum product across several states in the Niger Delta region.
The operation, conducted between February 3 and 9, 2025, was carried out in collaboration with other security agencies, targeting illegal refining sites and oil bunkering activities.
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
“In the latest crackdown on illegal oil bunkering, troops of the 6 Division, working alongside other security agencies, successfully apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves, deactivated 24 illegal refining sites, demobilised 11 boats, and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products,” the statement read.
The army detailed several hotspots where operations were carried out, in Imo River Region, soldiers dismantled six illegal refining sites, destroyed 113 drum pots and 83 drum receivers, and recovered 18,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Likewise in Obigbo, Rivers State, troops uncovered a 1,000-litre hidden crude reservoir and 100 sacks containing 1,500 litres of illegally refined products.
In Buguma, Asari-Toru LGA, a raid led to the destruction of two large refining pots and the seizure of over 9,000 litres of stolen crude and Ebocha Well 5, soldiers discovered 28 empty locally-made ovens and reservoirs filled with 5,900 litres of refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 3,500 litres of stolen crude.
Additionally, one suspect was arrested at the scene.
Meanwhile, in Okpai Oluchi, Delta State, the troops acting on intelligence, seized 2,800 litres of stolen crude from 70 sacks hidden near a pipeline belonging to SEEPCO Energy Company and Isoko South LGA, where a suspected oil thief fled, abandoning a Sienna bus (Lagos APP 89 CV) loaded with 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO.
In Bayelsa State, two illegal refining sites were destroyed at the boundary between Joinkrama 4 (Yenagoa LGA) and Okarki (Ahoada West LGA), with troops intercepting 2,500 litres of AGO along the River Niger bank.
The statement further assured that troops in Akwa Ibom State have been maintaining a strong security presence to prevent oil thieves and criminal elements from regrouping.
Reaffirming its commitment to eradicating oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, the army warned that its operations against economic sabotage would continue indefinitely.
