In a major crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta, operatives of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have deactivated three artisanal refineries, arrested five suspects, and recovered over 100,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel.
The Assistant Director of Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, in a statement on Sunday, disclosed that the operations spanned across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states. The crackdown included the destruction of illegal refining sites and the seizure of stolen crude products.
One illegal refining site in Degema, Rivers State, was shut down after troops discovered a large dugout containing over 12,000 litres of stolen diesel. In a related operation in the same local government area, a large wooden boat transporting over 7,000 litres of stolen condensates was intercepted. Two additional illegal refining sites and a wooden boat loaded with more than 3,000 litres of stolen products were also seized in the Bille area of Degema Local Government.
The Army’s intensified operations led to the arrest of five suspected oil thieves attempting to sabotage the Oando pipeline near the Obiafo Oil Field. Troops recovered several tools used for the theft, including 11 sacks filled with stolen products, three drilling machines, and other equipment.
“Operations conducted in Rivers State resulted in the deactivation of three artisanal refineries, the arrest of several oil thieves, and the recovery of over 100,000 litres of illegally refined AGO,” Lieutenant Colonel Jonah stated. He added that other illegal refining activities were disrupted in various parts of Degema LGA, with multiple sites and equipment destroyed.
In a separate incident, troops apprehended an oil thief in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, who was armed with a locally made revolver loaded with six rounds of 7.26mm special ammunition. Another illegal operation at a wellhead in Odagwa Community was stopped, with 5,000 litres of stolen crude and additional 2,000 litres stored in nylon bags being recovered.
Further operations in Ahoada East and West LGAs led to the interception of a Toyota Sienna van without registration, carrying 25 sacks of suspected condensates amounting to over 1,500 litres. A fabricated double-barrel gun was also recovered. Troops confiscated 34 nylon bags containing an estimated 1,800 litres of stolen condensates in Ahoada West, while in Imo Riverside, 16 illegal refining sites and 50 drum pots were destroyed, along with wooden boats carrying over 10,000 litres of stolen oil.
Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, commended the troops for their resilience in the field. He urged them to continue their efforts to secure the region and create a conducive environment for socio-economic activities.
