Troops arrest 62 oil thieves, seize 350,000 litres in Niger Delta

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has said its operatives have arrested 62 suspected oil thieves and confiscated over 350,000 litres of stolen products during a series of operations across four states in the Niger Delta region.

The Army said the latest operation was conducted in four days, as part of its sustained onslaught against oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and associated crimes in the region, adding that several illegal bunkering sites were ‘dismantled’ and ‘supply chains’ disrupted.

The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt Col Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

Danjuma further said the operation, which was in collaboration with other security agencies, led to the destruction of 14 illegal refining sites.

The statement read, “ These feats were achieved through various operations conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, with successes recorded across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states between 14 and 20 July 2025.

“The operations led to the arrest of 62 suspected economic saboteurs, the deactivation of 14 illegal refining sites, seizure of five boats, and the confiscation of over 350,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the joint operation area.

“In Rivers State, around an abandoned wellhead at Joinkrama 4 in Ahoada West Local Government Area, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites.”

Additionally, it said “Six large ovens, reservoirs, and receivers containing approximately 300,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 21,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate.”

The statement listed other items recovered at the site, including a generator set, welding machine, and several shovels.

It continued, “Similarly, around Obiafor in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA (Rivers State), several illegal refining sites were dismantled.

Three dug-out pits were discovered, two filled with over 5,700 litres of stolen crude and one containing unquantified stolen AGO. Additionally, two boats loaded with ten sacks of condensates were intercepted at the riverside in Obiafor.

“Troops also intercepted a Sienna vehicle with no registration number, loaded with 32 sacks filled with over 1,920 litres of stolen AGO, at Elele Town in Ikwerre LGA.

“Likewise, an illegal connection point was discovered, along with a dug-out pit filled with over 1,200 litres of condensate. Recovered items included three 150-metre-long hoses, eight metal drums, and several ovens set up for illicit refining.”

In Bayelsa State, around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, the statement said, “Troops deactivated four illegal refining sites and four dug-out pits. Over 10,000 litres of stolen AGO were confiscated, and five cooking ovens were dismantled.

Troops are also combing the creeks and rivulets to crack down on economic saboteurs.

“Relatedly, following a tip-off, troops projected force from Javel Sharp Sand Waterside to Gana Road in Sapele LGA of Delta State, where two suspected oil thieves were apprehended.

“They were arrested with two boats loaded with 30 cellophane bags filled with over 1,500 litres of illegally refined AGO.”

The Army also said in Akwa Ibom State, “Troops have continued to dominate the operational landscape, effectively denying criminal elements freedom of action.”

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their successes.

He urged them to sustain the operational tempo to continue denying economic saboteurs any “freedom of action.”