Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 13 illegal oil bunkering sites and recovered approximately 300,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in a series of joint operations conducted between January 20 and 26, 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.
According to Danjuma, three illegal refining sites were uncovered at Obiafu Oil Field in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State. These sites, operating in clusters, contained 10 cooking drums, eight reservoirs, and two rolls of hose. Similarly, in Abalama Community, Asari-Toru LGA, troops discovered jerricans concealed and filled with over 1,500 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
At Abacheke, also in ONELGA, four more illegal refining sites were dismantled, where troops deactivated 145 locally made oven drums and seized over 9,200 litres of stolen AGO stored in sacks and reservoirs. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the operations.
In Abua Odual LGA, at Okoromadi, troops raided another illegal refining site, uncovering four boilers and receivers used for illicit operations.
In Edo State, a large reservoir containing 252,000 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered in Ugo Community, Orhiomwon LGA. Equipment such as pumping machines, hoses, and pipes used for siphoning the crude oil were also recovered.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, at Asade Community in Ethiope West LGA, a 30,000-litre capacity DAF tanker truck without a plate number was intercepted while siphoning crude oil from a PAN Ocean Nigeria Limited pipeline. Investigations revealed that over 15,000 litres of crude oil had already been stolen before the interception.
Further operations in Akwa Ibom State led to the discovery of over 30 polythene bags filled with stolen AGO at a storage facility in Ikot Abia, Ikot Ekpene LGA.
In Bayelsa State, at Isonogbene in Brass LGA, two illegal refining sites were dismantled, leading to the recovery of over 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
Commending the troops for their relentless efforts, the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, who also commands the land component of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, reiterated the Army’s commitment to eradicating oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He warned economic saboteurs to abandon illegal activities and seek legitimate means of livelihood or risk intensified military operations.