Army Destroy 7 Illegal Refineries, Seize 109,000 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in N’Delta Region
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have intensified operations against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling seven illegal refining sites and recovering more than 109,000 litres of stolen products between November 10 and 23, 2025.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, noting that four suspected oil thieves were arrested during the joint operations conducted with other security agencies.
According to the statement, the recovered products—comprising over 88,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 21,355 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)—are valued at more than N150 million.
In Rivers State, troops deactivated three illegal refining sites around Okolomade in Ahoada West Local Government Area, where they uncovered three large cooking pots, four receivers and three coolants. They also seized about 40,000 litres of stolen crude and 20,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
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Similarly, at the fringes of the Imo River, soldiers discovered three more illegal refining sites at Asa, Obeakpo, Lekuma and Abiama in Oyigbo LGA. The sites contained eight drum pots, seven drum receivers, a fibre boat, and approximately 14,700 litres of stolen crude.
Acting on intelligence, troops also raided a compound in Abuloma, Okrika LGA, where 1,050 sacks containing over 32,000 litres of stolen crude were uncovered. At Abonnema Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, they intercepted a Cotonou boat carrying 25 sacks filled with over 1,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.
In Akwa Ibom State, the troops raided a suspected storage facility at Ikot Akpan, Ekparakwa, along the Abak–Ikot Abasi Road in Abak LGA. The operation led to the recovery of more than 520 litres of illegally refined AGO packed in a drum and ten jerricans, alongside several empty containers.
Operations in Delta State saw troops storm the DAEWOO Yard in Ekpan, Uvwie LGA, where suspected oil thieves fled into the creeks on sighting the soldiers. The troops recovered three 25-litre jerricans containing 75 litres of crude oil. Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, the army said it has sustained pressure on criminal networks operating in the waterways.
Commending the personnel for their resilience, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, urged them to maintain the momentum and ensure economic saboteurs are denied freedom of action across the region. He also appealed to residents of the Niger Delta to continue supporting the military with credible intelligence on criminal activities.
By PRNigeria
