Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves during a series of coordinated raids targeting illegal artisanal refineries in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesperson for the division, shared the update with journalists in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
He also confirmed that 14 illicit refineries were dismantled during these operations.
According to Danjuma, the troops seized 14 boats and confiscated approximately 254,000 litres of stolen petroleum products between March 31 and April 6.
Details of the operations showed that in Delta, soldiers raided the Old Ogorode community in Sapele, where they recovered 90,000 litres of petroleum products stored in a bus.
The troops also seized 74,107 drums containing 16,600 litres of petroleum products and 1,600 litres of illegally refined engine oil.
Other recovered items included a tank with over 20,000 litres of stolen products, an empty tank with a 5,000-litre capacity, eight pumping machines, and two generators. Two suspects were arrested at the scene.
In another operation in Amukpe, Sapele, soldiers intercepted a truck carrying 56 drums containing 13,400 litres of stolen crude oil, arresting three individuals involved in the crime.
In Rivers State, troops dismantled illegal refineries and seized around 83,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 3,200 litres of refined petroleum products across Andoni, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Akuku-Toru, and Degema Local Government Areas.
The stolen products were found stored in over 80 cooking pots, ovens, sacks, metal receivers, iron pipes, and a reservoir pit.
In Bayelsa, the troops confiscated 13,500 litres of stolen crude oil following the destruction of four illegal refineries in Yenagoa and Ekeremor LGAs.
During the raids, soldiers also dismantled over nine cooking drums, 11 ovens, four drums, and a dug-out reservoir.
Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, commended the troops for their successful operations.
He called on stakeholders to continue supporting efforts to combat illegal oil bunkering, assuring Nigerians that these operations are part of broader efforts to enhance the nation’s oil and gas production and economic stability.
