NIGERIA: Troops Arrest 14 Suspected Oil Thieves, Dismantle Illegal Refineries In Niger Delta

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified their operations against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, leading to the arrest of fourteen suspects and the dismantling of several illegal refining hubs.

According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, the operations, conducted between October 20 and November 9, resulted in the destruction of fourteen illegal refining sites and the confiscation of over 20,205 litres of stolen petroleum products across multiple states.

In Rivers State, troops operating along the fringes of the Imo River deactivated six illegal refining sites and destroyed fourteen drum pots and nine drum receivers.

They also seized over 8,000 litres of stolen products from Asa, Okonta, and Okoloma in Oyigbo Local Government Area (LGA), and Obuzor in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. Additional recoveries were made at the abandoned Wellhead 3 in the remote manifold axis, where forty-two sacks containing about 1,250 litres of stolen crude oil were intercepted. Further operations in Ozochi, Ahoada East LGA, and Angalama, Asari-Toru LGA, also yielded significant recoveries.

In Delta State, troops arrested three suspected oil thieves around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA and impounded a J5 bus and a motorcycle loaded with over 4,000 litres of condensate. Similarly, an active illegal refining site was discovered at Bipoko in Warri South LGA, where a cooking oven and thirty-eight sacks containing over 1,140 litres of crude oil were found.

Troops also recorded successes in Akwa Ibom State, where actionable intelligence led to the interception of a truck illegally transloading Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from an underground storage facility at Olive Field Filling Station along the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road. The truck was found with over 3,287 litres of illegally refined AGO. In Bayelsa State, troops sustained operations targeting economic saboteurs, with further arrests and seizures made.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma stated that all suspects and confiscated products were being handled in accordance with the Nigerian Army’s operational mandate.

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing fight against oil theft and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.