The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, continues to intensify its crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta, achieving significant operational successes.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, revealed in a statement that troops have dismantled 37 illegal refining sites, seized over 130,000 litres of stolen products, and arrested ten suspects across multiple states.
Key Operations and Discoveries
- Rivers State (ONELGA LGA):
Nine illegal refining sites with 176 cooking drums, several pumping machines, and over 60,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated. Troops also seized 50,000 litres of crude oil, 5,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 6,250 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Four suspects were arrested. - Buguma (Asari-Toru LGA):
Three illegal refining sites and a large boat were deactivated, with 24,000 litres of stolen products recovered. - Bille and Bakana (Degema LGA):
Three refining sites were intercepted, yielding over 16,000 litres of stolen and illegally refined products. - Ozorchi Forest (Abua/Odual LGA):
Four illegal sites with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were dismantled. - Imo River Clearance Operations:
Eight refining sites, 50 drum pots, and 65 metal container receivers were destroyed, with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
Additional Successes
- Bayelsa State:
At Kunsho Creek (Southern Ijaw), troops dismantled a refining site with 2,000 litres of stolen crude. In Ekeremor LGA, an attempt to compromise a Shell pipeline was thwarted, with vandals abandoning pipes and gas cylinders. - Delta State:
A tanker truck positioned to siphon crude oil was intercepted at Obiukwole community, along with a hose connecting the pipeline to the truck. Four suspects were arrested. - Akwa Ibom State:
Troops maintained dominance over the region’s waterways and hinterlands to deter criminal activities.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to combating oil theft, urging citizens to report suspicious activities and cooperate with security agencies to preserve the nation’s resources.
