Doomsday for Oil Thieves in Niger Delta as Army Destroy 20 Illegal Refineries, Recover 90,000 litres of Products

Suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta have been given a dose of hell by troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army whose destroyed 20 of their illegal oil refining sites, recovered 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, deactivated 21 boats used in criminal activities, and arrested eight of them.

The suspected oil thieves met their waterloo during a raid carried out troops in conjunction with sister security agencies across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta States respectively.

Disclosing this in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma said the raid was conducted across the four states between December 23 and 29, 2024.

Here are excerpts from the statement: “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have sustained the onslaught against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.

“This effort led to the dismantling of 20 illegal refining sites, the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves, and the deactivation of 21 boats used in criminal activities. Additionally, over 90,000 litres of stolen products were recovered during the ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the region.”

According to Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, troops acted on actionable intelligence which indicated illegal activities around the Buguma general area in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, and responded swiftly and effectively, leading to the discovery of a massive tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat containing over 37,000 litres of stolen condensates.

“At the Ogajiama axis of the Buguma/Bakana general area, also in Asari-Toru LGA,” the statement continued, “troops engaged in a gun duel with criminal elements who fled due to superior firepower.

“An illegal refining site, one large pot, and a receiver containing 9,000 litres of illegally refined dual-purpose kerosene were appropriately dismantled. This was in addition to three locally made boats intercepted while attempting to load crude from an abandoned wellhead. Three suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operations.

“In a related development, around the Krakrama Community in Degema LGA, troops intercepted two illegal refining sites, four fibre boats, three wooden boats, and approximately 2,000 litres of stolen crude. At Gbede in Omoku, one illegal refining site, 27 locally made ovens, and 31 sacks containing over 2,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.”

Another illegal refining site, two drum pots, a wooden boat, and over 3,500 litres of stolen products were discovered in other operations at Odagwa-Imo Riverside in Etche LGA of Rivers State.

“Similarly, at the fringes of the Imo River, seven illegal refining sites, six boats, 122 drum pots, 49 drum receivers, and over 10,000 litres of stolen products were recovered,” the statement continued.

In Bayelsa State, at Biseni Forest in Yenagoa LGA, one illegal refining site was dismantled, and about 8,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated. Troops also uncovered an attempt to vandalise an inactive
Shell Petroleum Development Company flowline at Well 20 in the Opukushi general area of Ekeremor LGA.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eleven 280-litre drums containing approximately 3,080 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Enwang II in Mbo LGA. A follow-up operation traced the source of the product to a loading point at Dazele Filling Station, Ibaka, where an additional 31 drums of PMS, estimated at 8,680 litres, were intercepted.

According to the 6 Division spokesperson, preliminary investigations revealed that the products were intended for smuggling to a neighbouring country.

In Delta State, Lt. Col. Danjuma noted that both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were conducted, effectively denying criminal elements freedom of action in the area.

Speaking on the operations, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, urged troops to maintain vigilance in the Joint Operations Area to create an enabling environment for exploration activities in the region.

Major General Abdussalam also called on the public to provide actionable intelligence on the activities of economic saboteurs.