Troops arrest 17 suspected oil thieves, destroy 18 bunkering sites

Troops of 6th Division Nigerian Army, working closely with other security agencies, have continued to dominate the operational landscape, denying criminal elements freedom of action. 

In several operations conducted from 17 – 23 February 2025, 18 illegal refining sites have been effectively dismantled and 17 suspected oil thieves arrested, 10 boats demobilised, with recovery of over 25,000 litres of stolen products across the Niger Delta Region (NDR). 

The acting deputy director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in a press statement Sunday in Port Harcourt, stated that operations conducted within Rivers state, particularly around Kilometre 45, Idama general area in Akuku-Toru local government area, troops recorded significant operational milestones.

These included the destruction of two active illegal refining site with the interception of three wooden boats loaded with over 9,000 litres of stolen crude. At Ogale junction, along Eket – Port Harcourt expressway, troops impounded a truck loaded with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude. 

“At  Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering dump with over 2,100 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stocked in sacks. The suspected oil thieves fled on sighting troops. 

“At Ogaji-Ama axis in Bukuma, a wooden boat laden with1,000 stolen crude was intercepted inside the creek. During clearance operations at Imo River, two illegal refining sites, 23 drum pots, 14 drum receivers were destroyed, with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated. 

“In Bayelsa state, at Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA, three illegal refining sites were dismantled, one pumping machine, with over 3,500 litres of crude were recovered, and two wooden boats demobilised. Similar operation was conducted around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where troops deactivated one illegal refining site with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude recovered,” he said.