Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have intensified their offensive against oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta, dismantling 25 illicit refineries and recovering approximately 95,000 litres of stolen crude. The operation also led to the arrest of 12 suspected oil thieves.
Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed the development in a statement from Port Harcourt, emphasizing that the operation, conducted between February 10 and 16, 2025, was a joint effort with other security agencies.
Widespread Operations Across Multiple States
The crackdown extended across four states, with troops seizing and destroying 18 boats used in illicit activities, alongside various refining equipment. In Rivers State, a night patrol intercepted a 45,000-litre capacity DAF truck carrying stolen crude along the Trans Niger Pipeline route. The culprits abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the military.
Additionally, security forces intercepted two wooden boats in the Odagwa–Imo River axis of Etche LGA, carrying over 20,000 litres of stolen crude. In Ndoni, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered three illegal bunkering sites storing over 3,420 litres of refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in sacks. Two suspects were apprehended at the scene.
Acting on intelligence, troops in Degema LGA, Rivers State, intercepted three wooden boats transporting 3,200 litres of stolen crude, while operations in Buguma and Okobhio Forest led to the dismantling of 19 illegal refineries and the seizure of 4,000 litres of crude.
Clampdown Extends to Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom
In Delta State, troops raided illegal refining sites in the Benneth Island area of Warri South West LGA, dismantling three active operations and confiscating 6,300 litres of stolen crude. A similar crackdown in Omadino, Warri South, resulted in the destruction of two refining sites and the recovery of 5,400 litres of refined AGO.
Further operations in Aladja, Udu LGA, uncovered illegally refined AGO stored within Cp Villa and Kazo Hotels, leading to four arrests. In Ethiope East LGA, a suspect was found in possession of a pump-action rifle and taken into custody.
Bayelsa State was also hit by the crackdown, with troops raiding an illegal refining site in Etelabu Forest, Yenagoa, seizing over 1,000 litres of stolen crude. Another operation in Biseni led to the discovery of a tricycle loaded with illicit AGO, which was abandoned by its operator.
In Ekeremor LGA’s Clough Creek area, troops encountered armed resistance while attempting to clear an illegal refining site. The suspects fled after a brief exchange of gunfire, leaving behind wooden boats and stolen crude, which were subsequently destroyed.
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, intensified military presence has curtailed the operations of oil thieves, denying them the freedom to continue illegal activities.
Army Leadership Commends Efforts
Major General Eric Emekah, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, lauded the troops for their relentless fight against illegal bunkering and pipeline sabotage. He urged them to maintain the momentum and ensure that economic saboteurs are permanently dislodged from the region.
During an operational tour on February 15, 2025, General Emekah visited key hotspots along the Imo River, including Afam, Obeama, and Umuori Creek in Obigbo LGA, Rivers State, as well as Asa waterways in Abia State. Declaring the areas as notorious bunkering hubs, he ordered the immediate dismantling of all illegal refining structures.
Troops have been directed to conduct thorough sweeps of the region, including surrounding forests, to ensure the complete eradication of illicit refining operations.
The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its mission to combat oil theft and safeguard national resources, vowing to sustain its crackdown on economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.