Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, have arrested 29 suspects and deactivated 42 illegal refining sites during anti-oil theft operations in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states. The operations, conducted from 9th to 15th December 2024, led to the confiscation of 197,000 litres of stolen products.
Assistant Director of Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, said the troops also demobilised 32 boats, 12 vehicles, and eight motorcycles used in the illegal oil trade. In Bayelsa, four refining sites were destroyed in Biseni Forest, with 37,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
Also Read: Army Chief Urges Stronger Military-Media Collaboration to Tackle Insecurity
Similar operations in Delta State led to the seizure of over 5,000 litres of water-laden crude in Sabasuo and 1,000 litres in Igbomotoru Creek. In Rivers State, three illegal refining sites were shut down in Kula, while additional seizures were made in Bille and along the Imo River.
Jonah reaffirmed the military’s commitment to combating economic sabotage in the Niger Delta, warning oil thieves of intensified operations to secure Nigeria’s oil resources.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.