Nigerian Army Cracks Down On Oil Theft, Arrests 39 Suspects And Destroys 18 Illegal Sites.
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have intensified their fight against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region, arresting 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantling 18 illegal refining sites in a series of coordinated operations.
The operations, conducted between 24 and 30 March 2025, were part of an ongoing crackdown against crude oil theft (COT) and related criminal activities. In collaboration with other security agencies, the troops seized over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products along with various equipment used in illegal refining.
According to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the operations were carried out across the Joint Operations Area (JOA), covering Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states.
Among the significant interceptions, troops discovered a fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen petroleum products along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area, Rivers State. A MAN Diesel container truck loaded with stolen items was also intercepted, though the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the soldiers.
Further raids led to the dismantling of several illegal refining sites, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products recovered along the Imo River. Additional seizures were made in Ebocha and Omoku, located in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
In a similar operation at Jelikri Creek in Degema Local Government Area, troops shut down multiple illicit refining sites. Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, soldiers uncovered two illegal refineries containing cooking ovens and storage drums filled with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Adibawa, Yenagoa Local Government Area. Another illegal refining site was dismantled in Okighene, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, where security forces seized 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
Delta State also saw significant results from the crackdown, with troops confiscating numerous jerrycans filled with illegally refined AGO and destroying cellophane bags used for transporting stolen petroleum products.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their relentless efforts and urged them to intensify their operations against oil thieves. He warned individuals involved in crude oil theft to desist from illegal activities and seek legitimate means of livelihood, cautioning that those who persist would face the full weight of the law.
Major General Emekah reassured the public that the Nigerian Army remains committed to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure and natural resources, vowing to sustain the offensive against oil-related crimes in the region.
Credit: TheGuardian
