From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army,
have destroyed 19 artisanal refineries, with 12 suspected oil thieves arrested, as well as over 138,000 litres of stolen products confiscated across the Joint Operations Area (JOA).
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.
Danjuma disclosed that the series of operations were carried out jointly with other security agencies in the JOA from March 17 to 23, 2025.
According to the Army spokesman, the operations took place in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States in the Niger Delta region,
within the period under review.
Among several communities in Rivers State raided, Danjuma disclosed: “Relatedly, troops raided seven illegal bunkering camps around Joinkrama 4 and Biseni in Ahoada West and Yenagoa LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively.
“During the raid, illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 25,000 litres of stolen crude and 850 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil recovered respectively.
“Other items recovered included two wheelbarrows and a wooden boat. This was in addition to over 1,550 litres of stolen crude in cellophane bags on the waterways. Similar seizures were also made at Obiafu in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA.
“In Delta State, around Masogar in Ethiope West LGA, an illegal bunkering open truck, with an inbuilt iron tank with registration number Edo Ekp 83 XB was intercepted along NNPC/Chevron/Seplat pipeline. The truck was loaded with over 20,000 litres of stolen crude, with another truck positioned behind it, waiting to be loaded with stolen products.
“Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, along the Iko – Okorete communities road in Eastern Obolo LGA, a Toyota Avalon with Registration Number Lagos LSR 796 FD loaded with over 1,620 litres of stolen products in 54 cellophane bags was intercepted. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested.”
He said all the suspects have been handed over to the appropriate agencies for prosecution, while items and products confiscated were handled in accordance with the existing operational mandate.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, has charged the troops to scale up the anti-crude oil theft operations in the JOA in order to effectively deny oil thieves and associated criminals freedom of action.
He also called on the people of the region to continue to provide credible information on the activities of criminal elements in their domain to security agencies.