Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have intensified their crackdown on illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta, arresting 19 suspected oil thieves and dismantling 43 illegal crude refining sites.
The operations also led to the seizure of approximately 260,000 liters of stolen petroleum products across four regional states.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Jonah Dan Juma, disclosed that the operations took place between November 4 and 10, 2024, targeting locations in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta states.
The statement emphasized the army’s ongoing successes in curbing illegal oil bunkering operations in the region.
“In the operations conducted between 4 – 10 November 2024, troops dismantled over 43 illegal oil bunkering hubs, arrested 19 economic saboteurs, and confiscated over 260,000 liters of stolen products,” the statement read.
“In addition, over 11 vehicles, 21 boats, and 11 motorcycles used for stealing crude were demobilised.”
In Rivers State, troops reportedly dismantled seven active illegal refining hubs in the Abesa and Kula areas of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, resulting in the seizure of over 60,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil.
Similar operations in the Cawthorne Channel 1 and Bille areas led to the destruction of additional bunkering sites and the recovery of 41,000 litres of stolen products.
Operations also took place in Buguma Creeks, where troops dismantled four illegal refining hubs, handling eight large cooking pots, reservoirs, and three local boats stocked with 12,500 litres of stolen products.
Additional seizures included several wooden boats carrying over 10,000 litres of stolen petroleum around Odagwa, Akwa, Oza West, Oyigbo, Obozur, and Ayama.
Further raids along the Obikrom and Omoku areas of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA saw troops intercept multiple vehicles suspected of transporting stolen crude.
In Ogbonga Forest, six illegal refining hubs containing over 10,000 litres of crude oil were dismantled.
Troops also intercepted two tankers carrying over 96,000 litres of stolen petroleum along Okopedi Atai Road in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
Additionally, three Toyota Camry vehicles loaded with 5,400 litres of stolen AGO were seized along the Ikot Abasi-Port Harcourt road after the drivers abandoned the vehicles and fled into the bushes.
In Delta State, a tanker truck carrying 45,000 litres of stolen products was intercepted at a military checkpoint, with the occupants fleeing. Troops also confiscated two tanker trucks, pumping machines, and hoses used to siphon products from a barge at Willis Jetty in Enerhen.
In Bayelsa State, the army intercepted a vehicle with registration number NSH 168 ZF, along with three suspects, transporting over 1,500 litres of stolen AGO in 24 sacks along Elebele-Emeyal road in Ogbia LGA. Around the Sangana River in Southern Ijaw, a suspected dump used for storing stolen crude was destroyed, and three suspects were arrested at Ashawo Fish Camp, along with a pumping machine.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam commended the troops for their successful operations and urged them to sustain the momentum, emphasizing that their actions would aid in boosting Nigeria’s oil production capacity.
