The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and destroyed 18 illegal refineries in a large-scale crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta Region.
The army also confiscated 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during the six-day operation, which was conducted in collaboration with other security agencies across three states.
Major Seizures and Arrests
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed the details in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Monday.
According to Danjuma, operations were carried out between March 24 and 30, 2025, leading to multiple arrests and the destruction of illegal refining sites.
Key highlights include:
- In Rivers State, troops intercepted an 18,000-litre fabricated twin tank filled with stolen crude along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area (LGA).
- A MAN Diesel container truck carrying stolen crude, disguised with bags of sawdust, was also seized, though the suspects fled on sighting security forces.
- At Imo River, troops dismantled several illegal refining sites and confiscated over 15,000 litres of stolen crude.
- In Rumuekpe Forest, Ahoada East LGA, two illegal refining sites containing 2,800 litres of stolen products were destroyed.
- Further raids in Ebocha, Omoku (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA), and Jelikri Creek (Degema LGA) led to the dismantling of multiple refining sites and destruction of illegal processing equipment.
Operations in Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom
The army also carried out similar crackdowns in Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States:
- In Adibawa, Yenagoa LGA (Bayelsa State), troops destroyed two illegal refining sites containing 8,000 litres of stolen crude stored in drums and sacks.
- In Okighene, Southern Ijaw LGA, they confiscated 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
- In Egbokodo Itsekiri Community, Warri South LGA (Delta State), troops seized jerricans filled with illegally refined AGO and destroyed several storage materials.
- In Akwa Ibom State, security forces maintained a heavy presence, disrupting criminal activities and restricting oil thieves’ operations.
Army’s Warning to Oil Thieves
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanue Emekah, praised the troops for their efforts and urged them to intensify the crackdown against oil thieves.
He warned those involved in illegal oil activities to abandon crime and seek legitimate employment or risk facing the full weight of the law.
“We will continue to sustain operations to create a secure environment for legitimate oil exploration and economic activities to thrive,” Emekah stated.
