The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, operating in synergy with other security agencies in Port Harcourt, has intensified its offensive against oil thieves in the Niger Delta, leading to significant seizures and arrests.

The comprehensive operation, which spanned multiple states between October 20 and November 9, resulted in the apprehension of 14 suspected oil criminals and the confiscation of 20,205 liters of illegally refined and stolen petroleum products.

Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, confirmed the success in a statement issued on Monday, noting that the operations also successfully dismantled 14 illegal refining hubs across the region.

Details of the seizures indicate a widespread scope of criminal activities: “In Rivers State, along the fringes of the Imo River, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites, destroyed fourteen drum pots and nine drum receivers, as well as confiscated over 8,000 litres of stolen products. The recoveries were made around Asa, Okonta, and Okoloma in Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, and Obuzor in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State,” the statement noted.

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In neighboring Delta State, the crackdown was equally effective. “Similarly, in Delta State, around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA, troops arrested three suspected oil thieves and impounded a J5 bus and one motorcycle, recovering over 4,000 litres of condensate. Also, at Bipoko Community in Warri South LGA, troops discovered an active illegal refining site with a cooking oven and thirty-eight sacks filled with over 1,140 litres of stolen crude oil,” Danjuma added.

Furthermore, actionable intelligence led to a significant interception in the South-South. “In Akwa Ibom State, following actionable intelligence, troops intercepted a truck while transloading Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from an underground storage facility at Olive Field Filling Station along the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road in Ikot Ekpene LGA. The truck was loaded with over 3,287 litres of illegally refined AGO,” the military disclosed.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma concluded by confirming the sustained nature of the ongoing operation: “In Bayelsa State, troops also sustained operations against economic saboteurs. All the suspects arrested, as well as the confiscated products, were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate.”

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