By Nkechi Eze
In a decisive blow against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in joint operations with other security agencies, have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves and uncovered 27 illegal bunkering sites across the Niger Delta region. The large-scale operations, which took place between May 26 and June 8, 2025, also led to the recovery of over 161,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in an official signed statement disclosed that the crackdown spanned several states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta, where troops engaged in coordinated raids to dismantle illegal refining camps and intercept stolen crude and refined products.
In Bayelsa State, along Zarama-Joinkrama 4 axis, troops uncovered an illegal connection at Wellhead 10, which was linked to an illicit refining site. A follow-up operation led to the seizure of five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator, and more than 30,000 litres of stolen crude. At Biseni Community, Adibawa in Yenagoa Local Government Area, troops discovered two additional illegal connections to a pipeline, linked to another refining site. The site contained 19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping machine, six metallic drum receivers filled with over 4,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and more than 27,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 460 sacks.
Further operations at Luka Creek near Lagosgbene in Southern Ijaw LGA resulted in the confiscation of over 1,500 litres of stolen products. At Tamogbene in Ekeremor LGA, 71 large pipes, 30 smaller pipes hidden under logs, a 40-horsepower engine, and a wooden boat were recovered. Two suspects fled upon sighting the troops.
In Rivers State, troops intercepted a fibre boat, a wooden boat, and a large wooden barge carrying more than 27,000 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure. Around Dorger Land Community in Okrika LGA, another wooden boat loaded with 18,980 litres of PMS was intercepted and three suspects were apprehended. Additional seizures were made in Okarki Forest, Banana Creek in Ahoada West, Degema, and Egbema-Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, where troops discovered an illegal refining site containing two cooking ovens, drums, and over 3,000 litres of crude. At Oyingbo, troops intercepted a truck (Reg No. SML 204 VJ) loaded with 3,000 litres of crude concealed in sacks. Near Omoku waterside, 2,700 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were also intercepted.
In Akwa Ibom State, one suspect was arrested at Ekparakwa along Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA with 63 nylon bags filled with over 1,900 litres of AGO inside an Infiniti Jeep bearing registration APR 105 KX (Abia State). In a related development, two more suspects were arrested along Abak-Ikot Abasi road in Abak LGA in a Toyota Camry (UJ 804 KJA, Lagos), loaded with over 840 litres of PMS stored in 31 nylon bags.
In Delta State, troops uncovered two wooden boats containing more than 3,600 litres of stolen crude hidden in 120 cellophane bags across Obodo, Ugbukoko, Jatumi, and Obofo oil fields in Warri South LGA. At Bennett Ogboloja, also in Warri South, two illegal refining sites with ovens, pumping machines, and a makeshift shop containing 500 litres of AGO were dismantled. In Sapele LGA’s Urakpa Gana waterside, four suspects were arrested with 57 sacks of stolen condensates estimated at over 1,800 litres. Two Toyota vehicles (Reg No. GWA 312 KZ and WWR 675 JU) loaded with 1,630 litres of condensates in 47 bags were also intercepted.
Commending the troops for their efforts, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah praised their operational resilience and urged them to sustain the pressure on oil thieves and saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.
This operation marks another significant stride in the Nigerian Army’s campaign against economic sabotage and the criminal exploitation of the nation’s oil resources.
