… Recovers 161,000 Litres of Stolen Products
The Nigerian Army says its ongoing crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta has yielded significant results, with the discovery of 27 illegal refining sites, arrest of 43 suspects, and recovery of over 161,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
The operations, which were carried out by troops of the 6 Division between May 26 and June 8, 2025, spanned across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma.
According to the statement, the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies to clamp down on oil bunkering and sabotage of national assets.
“In Bayelsa State, troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, linked to an illegal refining site,” Danjuma stated. “In the follow-up operation, troops recovered five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil.”
He noted that more illegal connection points were discovered at Biseni community in Adibawa, Yenagoa Local Government Area, where items such as 19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping machine and over 31,000 litres of illegally refined products and crude were seized.
In Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor LGAs, troops uncovered more illegal sites. At Luka Creek, about 1,500 litres of stolen products were confiscated, while at Tamogbene, they recovered 71 big pipes, 30 small pipes, a 40HP engine and a wooden boat. Two suspects reportedly fled the scene upon sighting troops.
In Rivers State, troops intercepted a fibre boat, a wooden boat and a large wooden barge laden with over 27,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Eight suspects were arrested.
Similarly, around Dorger Land in Okrika LGA, another wooden boat loaded with 18,980 litres of PMS was intercepted and three suspects apprehended. Additional seizures were made in Okarki Forest, Banana Creek and Degema.
At Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, troops uncovered an illegal refining site with two cooking ovens and over 3,000 litres of stolen crude oil. In Oyingbo, a truck with registration number SML 204 VJ loaded with crude oil concealed in sacks was also intercepted.
Also, in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, over 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) stored in 45 sacks were seized near the waterside.
In Akwa Ibom State, a suspect was arrested along Ekparakwa-Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam route in a Jeep carrying 1,900 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Two others were apprehended on Abak-Ikot Abasi road with 840 litres of PMS in a Toyota Camry.
In Delta State, troops discovered two wooden boats containing over 3,600 litres of stolen crude concealed in cellophane bags within the Obodo, Ugbukoko, Jatumi, and Obofo oil fields in Warri South LGA.
At the Bennett Ogboloja area of the same LGA, two illegal refining sites, two ovens, two pumping machines and a makeshift shop with over 500 litres of AGO were dismantled.
In Sapele LGA, four suspects were arrested at Urakpa Gana waterside with 1,800 litres of stolen condensates, while two vehicles loaded with 1,630 litres of the substance were also impounded.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their resilience and urged them to maintain momentum in the war against economic sabotage in the region.
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