From Victor Osula, Abuja
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in a series of operations conducted across the Niger Delta from March 24 to 30, 2025.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, noted that the operations, conducted in collaboration with sister agencies, were carried out across the Joint Operations Area (JOA) in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, as part of an ongoing crackdown against Crude Oil Theft (COT) and associated crimes.
While over 60,000 litres of stolen products and other items were confiscated, Danjuma said troops intercepted an inbuilt fabricated twin tank stocked with 18,000 liters of stolen products along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
During the operation, several illegal refining sites, drum pots, and receivers were dismantled, while over 15,000 litres of stolen products were recovered along the Imo River. Other seizures were made around Ebocha, Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
In a similar operation, troops closed up on oil thieves at Jelikri Creek in Degema Local Government Area, dismantling several illegal refining sites.
Danjuma further noted that troops discovered two illegal refining sites containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in Bayelsa State.
“In Bayelsa State, operations conducted yielded the desired outcome. This was evident around Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, where two illegal refining sites, containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks. At Okighene in Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site with over 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) recovered.
“In Delta, troops confiscated several jerrycans filled with illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and destroyed several cellophane bags used for the criminal activity.
“The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and charged them to upscale the crackdown against oil thieves.
Major General Emekah warned oil thieves to turn a new leaf and engage in legitimate means of livelihood or be prepared to face the wrath of the law”, he said.
