The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refineries in a large-scale operation aimed at curbing crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
The operation, which lasted for six days, covered three states and was conducted in collaboration with other security agencies. During the crackdown, 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were also seized.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma.
Details of the Crackdown
According to the statement, the operation, which took place from March 24 to March 30, 2025, targeted major crude oil theft hotspots across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States.
“Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have arrested 39 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 18 illegal refining sites in the ongoing crackdown against Crude Oil Theft (COT) as well as other associated crimes conducted in the Niger Delta Region. The operations, which were conducted across the Joint Operations Area with sister agencies, led to the confiscation of over 60,000 litres of stolen products and other items,” the statement read.
Rivers State Operations
In Rivers State, troops conducted a successful interception along Ochokocho Road in Etche Local Government Area, where they discovered:
- An inbuilt fabricated twin tank containing 18,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
- A MAN Diesel truck (Reg. LXA 44 XA) concealed with sawdust, carrying an unquantified volume of stolen products. The suspects fled upon sighting the troops.
Further operations at the Imo River and Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East LGA resulted in:
- The destruction of multiple illegal refining sites.
- The seizure of 15,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
- The dismantling of two additional illegal refining sites in Rumuekpe, with 2,800 litres of stolen crude oil confiscated.
Troops also moved into Ebocha and Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA and Jelikri Creek in Degema LGA, destroying refining sites, drum ovens, metal pipes, and hoses used for crude oil theft.
Bayelsa and Delta State Crackdowns
In Bayelsa State, the Army recorded similar successes:
- At Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, troops dismantled two illegal refining sites containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
- At Okighene in Southern Ijaw LGA, security forces recovered 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
In Delta State, the crackdown continued in Egbokodo Itsekiri Community in Warri South LGA, where:
- Troops confiscated several jerricans filled with illegally refined AGO.
- They destroyed cellophane bags used for crude oil smuggling.
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, the Army stated that its operations had tightened security in key areas, making it difficult for oil thieves to operate.
Army Vows to Sustain Crackdown
Reacting to the success of the operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanue Emekah, urged troops to intensify the crackdown against oil thieves to create a safer environment for legal oil exploration.
Emekah also warned oil thieves to abandon their criminal activities and seek legitimate means of livelihood, or face the full force of the law.
This latest operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s commitment to combating oil theft, a crime that has severely impacted the country’s economy and oil production capacity.
