Twenty Oil Thieves Destroys Nineteen Illegal Refining Sites

Twenty suspected, oil thieves have destroyed nineteen illegal refining sites and troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested them.

The Army recovered five-hundred-and-eighty-nine thousand litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.

The Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Danjuma said the feat was achieved during a week-long operation conducted in four states of the region in collaboration with sister security agencies.

He listed the states as River’s, Bayelsa and Delta, pointing out that the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism is yielding results.

The statement reads, “The ongoing anti Crude Oil Theft operations in the Niger Delta Region is progressing with several successes recorded.

“In multiple operations conducted across the NDR between 19 and 25 May 2025, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army with other security agencies have successfully dismantled 19 illegal refining sites, with 20 suspected oil thieves apprehended, and over 589,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

“The anti Crude Oil Theft operations conducted by the troops in Rivers State, around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi Forests in Abua/Odual Local Government Area, uncovered several illegal refining sites, eight cooking ovens and massive storage facilities filled with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil , over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil, seven reservoirs, six receivers and a generator were recovered”.

He continued, “Relatedly, at the fringes of the Imo River, nine illegal refining sites were taken out, with 23 drum pots, ten drum receivers, 321 sacks and over 16, 000 litres of stolen products handled in consonance with operational mandate”.

Danjuma further said troops of the Division, projected operations into Ndoni at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema, where 245 sacks filled with 12,500 litres illegally refined AGO were recovered.

“Similar, operations was conducted around Ogbonga Forest in Bonny LGA, where troops apprehended a suspected oil thief with a fibre hand pulled boat and a 400 meters hose, evidently stained with crude oil, four spanners, a TECHNO T353 mobile phone amongst several other items recovered.

“In Delta State, troops uncovered an illegal refining site at Jeddo in Okpe LGA, where over 1,000 litres of stolen products stored in polythene bags were recovered.

“Likewise, at Ogbu Aladja in Warri South LGA, troops deactivated a number of illegal refining sites with several sacks filled with unquantified illegally refined AGO recovered, the statement added.

Similarly, in Bayelsa State, Danjuma said troops dismantled an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, with four cooking ovens, drums and receivers destroyed, as well as several litres of stolen products confiscated. 

The statement further said, “While, in Akwa Ibom State, troops have dominated both the land, waterways and the Creeks, effectively denying economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action.

“The apprehended oil thieves were handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while products confiscated have been handled in line with the extant operational mandate”.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, reassured that troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army will continue to intensify efforts at identifying other illegal refining sites and ensure they are dismantled.

Maj. Gen. Emekah, stated that the Army will create an enabling environment for legitimate exploration activities to thrive in the region.