The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has arrested 46 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 23 illegal refining sites during coordinated operations across the Niger Delta between June 9 and 29, 2025.
This was disclosed by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations for the Division, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, who stated that the operations were conducted in collaboration with other security agencies to curb oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and related crimes in the region.
According to Jonah, troops deactivated several illegal sites and recovered over 30,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
In Bayelsa State’s Biseni Community, Adibawa, Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), troops destroyed nine large refining pots, 16 drum pots, four receivers, and four coolant drums, recovering over 6,000 litres of stolen crude oil. Two armed suspects were also apprehended in Otueke, Ogbia LGA, with locally fabricated pistols and 9mm ammunition.
In Rivers State, six illegal refining sites were uncovered around Kilometer 45 in Degema LGA, yielding over 5,000 litres of stolen crude. At Kula 1 in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops dismantled a site containing four cooking ovens, four receivers, and four drums filled with more than 2,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), arresting four suspects in the process.
Further clearance operations along the Imo River led to the destruction of six refining sites and the recovery of 2,000 litres of crude oil from Obuzor and Okoloma areas in Ukwa West and Oyigbo LGAs of Abia and Rivers States, respectively.
In Akwa Ibom, troops raided a warehouse in Ukanafun LGA and recovered 131 nylon bags containing about 3,930 litres of stolen products. At Ebughu in Mbo LGA, seven jerricans with over 300 litres of illegally refined AGO were intercepted.
In Delta State, at Kwale in Ndokwa East LGA, security forces discovered a store at a tanker park along the Asaba Expressway with 150 sacks containing more than 3,000 litres of stolen crude. A vacuum truck loaded with stolen crude was also intercepted at Yanga Market Road in Oleh, Isoko North LGA, although the driver escaped, abandoning the vehicle.
Jonah reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to stamping out oil theft and restoring security and environmental stability in the Niger Delta.
