1
ITODE AKARI
PORT HARCOURT – Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army in collaboration with other security agencies have confiscated over 32,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, arresting 69 suspects over oil theft and related offences across the Niger Delta region.
A statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah on Sunday, disclosed that the operational successes which includes the deactivation of 9 illegal refining sites hidden within the region were achieved between August 11 and 24, 2025.
Lt. Col. Danjuma highlighted that In Delta State, the anti-crude oil theft operations led to the interception of two trucks loaded with over 15,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Sapele LGA, with three suspects arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to Danjuma, At One Man Village in Sapele, troops recovered 16 cellophane bags filled with illegally refined AGO, while at Nana Town in Warri North, several drums and four jerricans of illegally refined AGO were uncovered.
While in Rivers State, at Kilometre 45 in Degema Local Government Area (LGA), troops deactivated three illegal refining sites, recovered over 7,000 litres of stolen products, and seized a wooden boat.
Similarly, in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops intercepted two wooden boats loaded with eight sacks of stolen condensates.
Additionally, a dugout pit containing over 1,500 litres of condensate was discovered near an identified illegal connection point. At Izuoma Community around Sampson Estate in Oyigbo, over 1,500 litres of stolen products were also recovered.
Further highlighting the achievements of the troops, Lt. Col. Danjuma disclosed that at Akankurma Okoloma in Okrika, troops dismantled an illegal refining site and confiscated a drum pot, a receiver, and five drums filled with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude, while three suspects were arrested in connection with the offences.
Around Ataba in Andoni LGA, troops seized one fibre boat, one cooking pot, ten-inch pipes, and five valves. Seizures were also made along Imo River, where over 2,000 litres of stolen products were recovered in an operation that led to the deactivation of two illegal refining sites, four drum pots, and two receivers around Obuzor and the Oyigbo general area.
6 Division Army Public Relations
Acting Deputy Director further disclosed that the troops in Bayelsa State uncovered an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where two large reservoirs filled with over 7,000 litres of stolen crude, stating that this was in addition to five drums and receivers destroyed at the site.
Whereas in Akwa Ibom State, troops dominated the operational area, effectively denying criminal elements the freedom to operate.
He emphasised that all the suspects taken into custody, were handed over to the appropriate security agencies for prosecution, while products confiscated are handled inline with existing operational mandate.