Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division have dismantled 19 illegal refineries, apprehended 12 suspects and recovered over 138,000 litres of stolen petroleum products during a joint week-long operation in the Niger Delta. Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma revealed this in a statement issued from Port Harcourt, stating that the operation took place between March 17 and 23 across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom States.
In Rivers State, troops seized a tanker loaded with 60,000 litres of stolen crude along the Apajo-Iwoji-Iwofe road with the driver fleeing the scene. Numerous illegal refining sites were destroyed in Degema and Bonny Island—yielding over 5,700 litres of stolen crude, refining equipment and tools. Troops additionally seized a bunkering truck with 20,000 litres of crude in Delta, while two suspects were arrested transporting 1,620 litres of stolen petroleum in a Toyota Avalon in Akwa Ibom.
All suspects and seized items have been handed over to appropriate authorities for prosecution. Commending the troops, Major General Emmanuel Emekah urged reinforced measures against oil theft and appealed to residents for continued cooperation with security agencies.
