Military Intensifies Crackdown on Oil Theft, Destroys 18 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta, Nabs Suspects
In a renewed effort to curb crude oil theft and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 18 illegal refineries and apprehended 39 suspected oil thieves across multiple states in the region.
During the six-day operation, which took place from March 24 to 30, security operatives also confiscated over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. The coordinated crackdown was executed in collaboration with other security agencies, targeting notorious hotspots for illicit refining activities.
Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, disclosed this in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Monday. He emphasized the military’s commitment to sustaining the momentum against crude oil theft and ensuring a crime-free environment for legitimate oil exploration.
“Troops of 6 Division have intensified their operations against crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta Region. Over the past week, we have successfully dismantled 18 illegal refining sites and arrested 39 suspects. The operations, conducted across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States, led to the seizure of more than 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products,” the statement read.
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In Rivers State, soldiers intercepted a fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen crude along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area. A MAN Diesel container truck, concealed with bags of sawdust and carrying unquantified stolen products, was also seized, though its occupants fled upon sighting the troops. Additionally, multiple illegal refining sites along the Imo River and Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East LGA were dismantled, with over 17,800 litres of illicitly refined products confiscated.
Also, Bayelsa State was not spared in the sweep. Around Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, security forces uncovered two illegal refining sites with thousands of litres of stolen crude stored in drums and sacks. A similar discovery was made in Southern Ijaw LGA, where over 1,800 litres of stolen crude and illegally refined fuel were seized.
The crackdown extended to Delta State, where troops raided illicit refining hubs in Egbokodo Itsekiri Community, Warri South LGA. Jerricans filled with illegally refined products were confiscated, while tools used in crude oil bunkering, including hoses and metal pipes, were destroyed. Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, troops maintained a strong presence, effectively deterring oil thieves from operating freely in the area.
Meanwhile, Major General Emmanue Emekah, General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, commended the troops for their commitment and urged them to remain relentless in their crackdown on oil theft. He warned individuals involved in illicit oil activities to abandon their criminal enterprises and seek lawful means of livelihood or face the full force of the law.
With Nigeria losing billions in revenue to crude oil theft annually, the military’s sustained operations in the Niger Delta remain a crucial step toward restoring integrity in the oil sector and safeguarding the region’s environment from further devastation.
By PRNigeria
