NEWS: ARMY DESTROYS 19 ILLEGAL REFINERIES, ARRESTS 12 IN NIGER DELTA OPERATION

The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has said its operatives have destroyed 18 illegal refineries, arrested 12 suspects and recovered 138,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta region.

The Army said the feat was achieved during an operation it conducted in some communities in collaboration with other security agencies.

The Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening and sent to newsmen.

Danjuma said the one-week operation was conducted in four states, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta.

The statement partly reads, “Troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army, while consolidating on the operational gains recorded, conducted a series of operations from 17 – 23 March 2025.

“These operations resulted in the destruction of 19 artisanal refineries, with 12 suspected oil thieves arrested, as well as over 138,000 litres of stolen products confiscated across the Joint Operations Area. The operations were carried out jointly with other security agencies in the JOA.

“In accordance with the drive, several intelligence-led operations were conducted in Rivers State, which led to the interception of a tanker laden with 60,000 litres of stolen crude around Apajo – Iwoji – Iwofe road in Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

“Similarly, clearance operations were conducted at the fringes of the Imo River, which resulted in the deactivation of numerous artisanal refineries, 64 drum pots and 15 drum receivers with over 4,500 litres of stolen products recovered.

“While at Kumufari Creek in Degema LGA, troops discovered an abandoned oven, with 40 sacks filled with over 1,200 litres of stolen crude. Additionally, at the Okotokolomabia/Okoloma Lounge area in Bonny Island LGA, troops raided a site where suspected oil thieves fled and abandoned their equipment. At the site, various items were recovered, including a 6 KVA generator, one wielding machine, 5 drilling machines, two drilling cups, 38 bolts and nuts, amongst several other items.”

It continued, “Relatedly, troops raided seven illegal bunkering camps around Joinkrama 4 and Biseni in Ahoada West and Yenagoa LGAs of Rivers and Bayelsa States, respectively.

“During the raid, illegal refining sites were destroyed with over 25,000 litres of stolen crude and 850 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil recovered respectively. Other items recovered included two wheelbarrows and a wooden boat.

“This was in addition to over 1,550 litres of stolen crude in cellophane bags on the waterways. Similar seizures were also made at Obiafu in Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni LGA.”

Also in Delta State, specifically around Masogar in Ethiope West LGA, the Army said it intercepted an illegal bunkering open truck, with an inbuilt iron tank with registration number Edo Ekp 83 XB along the NNPC/Chevron/Seplat pipeline.

“The truck was loaded with over 20,000 litres of stolen crude, with another truck positioned behind it, waiting to be loaded with stolen products, ” the statement stated.

It continued, “Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, along the Iko – Okorete Communities road in Eastern Obolo LGA, a Toyota Avalon with Registration Number Lagos LSR 796 FD loaded with over 1,620 litres of stolen products in 54 cellophane bags was intercepted.

“The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested. All the suspects have been handed over to the appropriate agencies for prosecution, while items and products confiscated were handled in accordance with the existing operational mandate.”

Speaking, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, charged the troops to scale up the anti-crude oil theft operations in the Joint Operations Area in order to deny oil thieves and associated criminals freedom of action effectively.

Emekah also called on the good people of the region to continue to provide credible information on the activities of criminal elements in their domain to security agencies for prompt action.