The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified its crackdown on illegal oil bunkering and refining in the Niger Delta, arresting eight suspects and dismantling 20 illegal refining sites within a week.
The Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Danjuma Jonah, disclosed in a statement on Sunday, December 29, 2024, that these successes were achieved between December 23 and 29, 2024. The operations also led to the deactivation of 21 boats and the recovery of over 90,000 liters of stolen petroleum products.
“Troops of 6 Division, in conjunction with other security agencies, have sustained the onslaught against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region. This effort led to the dismantling of 20 illegal refining sites, the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves, and the recovery of over 90,000 liters of stolen products,” the statement read.
In one operation near Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), troops discovered a massive tarpaulin reservoir and a wooden boat containing over 37,000 liters of stolen condensates. A confrontation at Ogajiama in the Buguma/Bakana area resulted in a gunfight with suspected oil thieves, who fled under superior firepower. During the operation, troops dismantled an illegal refining site and confiscated 9,000 liters of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), as well as arrested three suspects.
Other notable recoveries across the region included:
- Degema LGA, Rivers State: Two illegal refining sites, seven boats, and 2,000 liters of stolen crude were intercepted.
- Omoku, Gbede Area: Troops dismantled one illegal refining site and confiscated 27 locally made ovens, 31 sacks of stolen products, and over 2,000 liters of crude.
- Odagwa, Etche LGA: A site with two drum pots, a wooden boat, and 3,500 liters of stolen products was neutralized.
- Imo River Fringes: Seven illegal refining sites, six boats, 122 drum pots, and over 10,000 liters of stolen products were recovered.
- Yenagoa, Bayelsa State: A dismantled site yielded 8,000 liters of stolen products, while a foiled attempt to vandalize a Shell Petroleum flowline was recorded in Ekeremor LGA.
- Akwa Ibom State: Troops intercepted 11 drums containing 3,080 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Enwang II, tracing the source to a filling station in Ibaka, where another 31 drums of PMS (8,680 liters) were seized.
The operations also extended to Delta State, where a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies effectively curtailed criminal activities in the area.
Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, commended the troops for their vigilance and urged them to sustain the momentum to create an enabling environment for exploration and economic activities in the Niger Delta. He also appealed to residents to provide actionable intelligence to aid the fight against economic sabotage.
The intensified operations highlight the military’s commitment to combating oil theft and preserving Nigeria’s critical economic infrastructure.
