Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a significant blow to oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, troops from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have made substantial gains in their operations from October 28 to November 3, 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement by Lieutenant-Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director6 Division Army Public Relations.
The successful crackdown resulted in the deactivation of 29 illegal refining sites, the arrest of 24 oil thieves, and the destruction of 14 boats used for stealing crude.
The troops intercepted a massive wooden boat laden with over 150,000 litres of stolen crude in Rivers State’s Akuku-Toru Local Government Area. Six suspects connected to the crime were apprehended.
Additionally, another wooden boat with over 50,000 litres of crude was seized, along with three illegal refining sites and large cooking pots containing over 20,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)
In Bayelsa State, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites, recovering over 2,500 litres of stolen crude and intercepting two wooden boats with over 2,500 litres of stolen products.
Similar operations were conducted in Akwa Ibom and Delta States, resulting in the seizure of illegally refined AGO, stolen iron pipes, and premium motor spirit ¹.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their successes and urged them to sustain the tempo to clear the region of criminal elements.
He also called on community leaders to take ownership of the fight against illegal oil bunkering.
The Nigerian Army’s efforts are part of a broader campaign to combat oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta region.
The operations have resulted in significant recoveries of 148,415 litres of illegally refined diesel.
The key recoveries from these operations are impressive: over 700,000 litres of stolen products have been recovered, 29 illegal refining sites have been deactivated, and 24 oil thieves have been arrested.
Additionally, 14 boats used for stealing crude have been destroyed, and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), stolen iron pipes, and premium motor spirit have been seized.
These efforts are part of a broader campaign by the Nigerian Military to secure the nation’s oil infrastructure and resources.
The troops from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have been at the forefront of this fight, neutralizing armed vandals, arresting suspected oil thieves, and confiscating stolen oil products.
