By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army on Sunday March 9, 2025, announced the destruction of no fewer than 31 illegal petroleum refining facilities in different parts of the Niger Delta Region.
About 29 suspects were also arrested with over 26 operational boats dismantled.
A statement from Division’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, also informed that over 212,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered during the series of operations conducted to halt crude oil theft in the oil rich region.
According to the Army’s statement, operations conducted at the Ogbonga Forest in Bonny Island Local Council of Rivers State resulted in the dismantling of 10 illegal refining Sites, recovery of 15 cooking pots, one heavy duty power generating set, and two massive reservoirs laden with over 70,000 litres of stolen petroleum products .
Other items recovered include three tanks containing about 10,000 litres of stolen crude, as well as one 200 meters long hose used to facilitate the criminal enterprise.
According to Col Jonah, all the recovered items were carefully and tactically concealed in a thick Forest not accessible to aerial surveillance by the Military.
Similarly, within the Oloma area of the same Bonny Island Council, troops arrested three suspected oil thieves ,together with over 10,000 litres of stolen crude and a wooden boat.
At Karakarma, about four illegal refining sites, four boats, together with over 9,600 litres of stolen crude were also intercepted,the Army stated.
This is even as four tanks laden with over 9,500 litres of stolen petroleum products disguised as bakery were seized in Elelenwo in Obio Akpor Local Council of Rivers State.
The Army Spokesman revealed that similar operations conducted in Kumbufari Creeks in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State culminated in the seizure of three wooden boats, over 9,000 litres of stolen crude and the destruction of several illegal refining sites.
“At Ebocha in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government, one active illegal refining site, a large metal oven drum ,hoses and a reservoir with, 6,000 litres of stolen products were handled in accordance with subsisting operational mandate.
Several other seizures were effected at Omoku ,also, in ONELGA Joinkrama 4 in Ahoada West LGA, Karakarma Community in Bille, Degema LGA, as well as along Cool Beach general area”, the Army Stated.
In Delta State, five wooden boats, 4000 liters of stolen crude, were recovered in Opumami in Warri South Local Council, while a truck laden with over 35,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were also intercepted.
Other seizures recorded in Obodo Omadino Community in Warri South council include over 3000 litres of stolen crude,several holding facilities ,and the destruction of three active illegal refining sites.
“In Bayelsa State, troops came under fire from suspected oil thieves, but superior fire forced the criminals to flee in disarray .
In follow up operations conducted, over 12,000, and 9000 stolen crude and illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil AGO were recovered respectively.
Other items recovered include seven wheelbarrows and one motorcycle. Also, around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, four illegal refining sites were deactivated, with 18 metal oven tanks, drums, metal pipes, hoses and dugout pits with over 5,800, and 200 litres of stolen crude and AGO confiscated respectively.
Along Biseni-Samabiri road, also, in Yenagoa LGA, one Toyota Sequoia Jeep loaded with over 1,750 litres of illegally refined AGO stored in sacks were recovered.
Similarly, over, 4000 litres of illegally refined AGO in two separate residential buildings were recovered ,.. The occupants fled and abandoned the vehicle and buildings on sighting troops.
The General Officer Commanding GOC of the the Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, while commending troops for their operational efficiency,and discipline, also urged them to sustain the ongoing pressure until all forms of oil theft and illegal refining operations are completely rooted out in the region.
He, also, appealed to the illegal petroleum products operators, to shun the evil trade, and be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
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