CRIME: TROOPS SEIZE OVER 70,000 LITRES OF STOLEN CRUDE PRODUCTS IN NIGER DELTA

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In an effort to stop oil theft and illicit refining in the Niger Delta, Nigerian Army troops from the 6 Division, working with other security agencies, seized 70,000 litres of stolen goods.

The army demobilised six boats, stopped nine vandalised pipelines, arrested 16 suspected oil thieves, and destroyed 12 illicit processing stations between January 27 and February 2, 2025.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division, Army Public Relations, made these revelations in a statement. He underlined the military’s dedication to maintaining operations and providing a safe atmosphere for lawful commercial activity.

According to the statement, two suction trucks carrying 12,000 litres of stolen crude each were stopped by troops along the Igwuruta-Airport Road in the Ikwerre Local Government Area while they were conducting operations in Rivers State.

More than 10,000 litres of stolen goods were found and confiscated from a storage facility in a scrap yard along the same route as a result of additional intelligence. Furthermore, three unlawful refining facilities, forty-three cooking drum pots, twenty-three receivers, and three fibre boats were destroyed during clearance operations near the Imo River.

Additionally, troops found a locally made double-barrel pistol that had been left behind by escaping oil thieves, along with more than 4,000 gallons of stolen goods in the Obigbo, Oyigbo, and Ukwa districts.

It further disclosed that In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA), troops dismantled four illegal refining sites and destroyed 86 locally made ovens. A dugout pit containing over 7,200 litres of stolen crude and 2,700 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was discovered.

Along the Ndoni waterside, security forces found 102 sacks filled with over 5,100 litres of stolen AGO and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). Similarly, at Agah, 35 sacks containing more than 2,100 litres of illegally refined AGO were confiscated, while two suspects were apprehended in Omoku with 14 sacks of condensates stored in their homes.

According to the statement, Operations in Delta State also led to the interception of a locally constructed wooden boat abandoned in the Ashaka Okpai community water channel, containing over 3,160 litres of stolen crude.

Eight sacks of condensates were also discovered along the Oando pipeline near Tuomo village in Bomadi. In Bayelsa State, a suspected oil thief was arrested in Sagbama Local Government Area with over 1,100 litres of illegally refined AGO.

“Troops have continued to dominate the creeks and waterways in Akwa Ibom State to deny criminal elements freedom of action,” the statement reads

Commending the troops, as contained in the statement, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, urged the Troops to maintain professionalism and intensify operations.

“I charge you to upscale the operational tempo in ensuring a conducive environment for increased exploration activities is created,” he said.

He further encouraged them to “remain professional and disciplined in discharging their duties”.