Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have arrested 29 suspected oil thieves and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.
During the operation, the troops dismantled 24 illegal refineries and rendered eleven boats used for transporting stolen products inoperable.
According to Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, a clearance operation along the Imo River resulted in the deactivation of six illegal refining sites. The troops also destroyed 113 drum pots, 83 drum receivers, and two boats while recovering 18,000 litres of stolen products. In Asa, Obigbo Local Government Area (LGA), they discovered a reservoir containing over 1,000 litres of stolen products and 100 sacks filled with more than 1,500 litres of crude oil.
Operations were carried out at different locations, including Okoloma, Obuzor, Lekuma, Abiama, Asa, and Ukwa. In Buguma, Asari-Toru LGA, troops dismantled an illegal refining site equipped with two large pots and receivers, one of which contained over 9,000 litres of stolen crude.
At Ebocha Well 5, an active illegal refining site was raided, leading to the seizure of 28 empty locally made ovens, reservoirs containing 5,900 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), and 3,500 litres of stolen crude. Troops also recovered 37 sacks filled with over 2,220 litres of AGO and apprehended one suspect.
In Akuku-Toru LGA, security operatives discovered an illegal refining site with a 200-meter hose connected to a reservoir holding over 1,500 litres of stolen petroleum products.
In Delta State, acting on intelligence, troops conducted a sting operation around Okpai Oluchi community in Ndokwa East LGA, where they confiscated over 70 sacks of stolen products along SEEPCO Energy Company’s pipeline, amounting to 2,800 litres. Additionally, a suspected oil thief abandoned his Sienna bus, registered as Lagos APP 89 CV, which was loaded with 15 sacks of illegally refined AGO.
In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled two illegal refining sites along the boundary between Joinkrama 4 in Yenagoa LGA and Okarki in Ahoada West LGA. They also intercepted 2,500 litres of AGO in sacks at Biseni, along the River Niger, as well as in the Akpedi community and Akinima in Ahoada West LGA.
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, troops continued their operations to suppress criminal activities and prevent oil theft.
