Nigerian Army Uncovers 27 Illegal Refineries, Apprehends 43 Oil Thieves In Niger Delta Crackdown.
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have uncovered 27 illegal refineries and arrested 43 suspected oil thieves across the Niger Delta region, marking a significant victory in the fight against economic sabotage. The operations, conducted between 26 May and 8 June 2025, also saw the recovery of over 161,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, dealing a blow to illicit activities plaguing Nigeria’s oil industry.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, revealed the breakthrough in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt. The raids, carried out in synergy with other security agencies, spanned multiple states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom, targeting hotspots of illegal bunkering and refining.
In Bayelsa State, troops struck a key site along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, uncovering an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 linked to a refining operation. The haul included five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator, and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Further operations in Biseni Community, Adibawa, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), exposed two illegal connection points on a pipeline, yielding 19 large pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping machine, and over 27,600 litres of crude stored in 460 sacks, alongside 4,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
Rivers State saw similar success, with troops dismantling a site at Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, recovering two cooking ovens, drums, receivers, and over 3,000 litres of stolen crude. At Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA near the waterside, soldiers intercepted 45 sacks containing over 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene. A truck, registration number SML 204 VJ, was also seized at Oyingbo, laden with over 3,000 litres of crude concealed in sacks.
In Akwa Ibom, a suspected oil thief was apprehended at Ekparakwa along Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA, with 63 nylon bags holding over 1,900 litres of stolen AGO, while in transit in an Infinity Jeep, registration number APR 105 KX. At Urakpa Gana waterside in Sapele LGA, four suspects were nabbed with 57 sacks of stolen condensates, estimated at over 1,800 litres, and two Toyota vehicles, registration numbers GWA 312 KZ and Delta WWR 675 JU, carrying 1,630 litres of condensates in 47 bags.
Major General Emmanuel Emekah, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, lauded the troops for their resilience and urged them to sustain the momentum. “Our soldiers are committed to rooting out these economic saboteurs, and this operation underscores our resolve to protect Nigeria’s vital resources,” he said, calling for continued collaboration with stakeholders to bolster oil and gas production for the nation’s prosperity.
The crackdown highlights the ongoing battle against oil theft, which costs Nigeria billions in revenue annually. With 27 illegal refineries dismantled and 43 suspects in custody, the 6 Division’s efforts signal a determined push to safeguard the Niger Delta’s economic lifeline.
