By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have arrested no fewer than 36 suspected oil thieves following coordinated clearance operations in the Niger Delta Region.
The operations, said to have been carried out in conjunction with operatives from other security agencies, also led to the dismantling of over 21 illegal refining facilities across the states of the Region.
A statement issued on Sunday, May 11, 2025, by the Spokesperson for the Division, Lt Col.Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, informed that over 591,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered during the operations.
He noted that during the operations which were part of the renewed crack down on the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals, troops discovered massive illegal refining activities around Orashi Game Reserve ,as well as Okolomade area of Abua/Odua local council of Rivers State.
According to him, troops were able to trace a hose as long as more than 15 kilometers which was connected to an illegal loading bay used for the purpose of siphoning crude oil from pipelines.
“In a followup operations, five illegal refining sites with a large metal tank loaded with over 350,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil AGO were intercepted.
“These were in addition to large ovens, with a massive dugout, filled with over 100,000 litres of stolen crude handled appropriately.
Seven items ,including a pumping machine borehole, electric cables,and sockets were recovered at the scene”, Col.Danjuma stated.
In the same vein, about 1,428 bags of stolen petroleum products, estimated to be over 21,500 litres of crude were seized at the fringes of the Imo River.
Seven illegal refining sites , five operational boats ,used for illegal refining activities ,along side 38 drum pots ,and 15 drum receivers were also destroyed.
According to the Army spokesperson, one illegal refining site, consisting of an oven, receiver waste pit ,and a 50 meter long hose were destroyed at the Okarki Forest in Ahoada West Local Council of Rivers state.
In Otokolomabie and Coconut Estate in Bonny Local Government of Rivers State, troops, Col Danjuma noted discovered and seized an operational boat ,laden with over 10,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
This is just as over 20,000 litres of stolen crude ,contained in a truck, were intercepted in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers state.
Similarly ,in an intelligence-driven operation on Ring Road 2, in Uyo local council of Akwa Ibom State, troops seized a tanker truck conveying over 16,500 litres of stolen petroleum products ,with the driver fleeing and abandoning the truck .
“In Bayelsa, troops intercepted a DAF XF380 ,Tanker truck ,with registration number ABM 210 XA ,Rivers state loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen AGO ,together with three suspected oil thieves .
“Likewise in a Creek between Oyeregbene ,and Babragbene communities in Southern Ijaw LGA ,a wooden boat loaded with over 1000 litres of stolen crude was concealed in the Creek,” the Army spokesman said.
“Furthermore ,Danjuma informed that within the waterside area of Isoko South local council in Delta state ,two Toyota Camry vehicles conveying over 1,250 stolen petroleum products were seized,while in Egbokodo general area of Warri South Local Government. 38 sacks filled with over 1,175 litres of stolen crude also recovered.
“Troops in snap checks at Koka general area in Oshimili South LGA, intercepted a Honda vehicle with registration number AAA 289 BM.
“In a thorough search conducted on the vehicle, two locally fabricated pistols ,a cutlass cartridges and sum of twenty five thousand ,one hundred Naira only were recovered”, the Army spokesperson stated.
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