In a significant crackdown on oil thieves, troops of the 6 Division, in collaboration with other security agencies, have sustained their operational gains against oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region.
According to the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma said on Sunday that between December 16 and 22, 2024, the troops conducted several operations across the region, resulting in the dismantling of 37 illegal refining sites, the arrest of 10 suspected oil thieves, and the recovery of over 130,000 litres of stolen products.
The operations were carried out in various locations, including Rivers State, where a cluster of 9 illegal refining sites with 176 cooking drums and several pumping machines were destroyed in Obiafu, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
Additionally, two mobile phones and several locally constructed dumps stocked with over 60,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.
These products included about 50,000 litres of stolen crude, 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 6,250 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), while four suspected oil thieves were apprehended.
In other parts of the region, troops intercepted and deactivated several boats and recovered thousands of litres of stolen products.
For instance, in Buguma general area in Asari-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites and a large boat were deactivated, resulting in the recovery of over 24,000 litres of stolen products.
Similarly, in Degema LGA, three illegal refining sites and two wooden and one fibre boats were intercepted, with over 6,000 and 5,000 litres of stolen crude recovered, respectively.
In Azorchi, four illegal refining sites with over 10,000 litres of stolen products were handled.
In Bayelsa State, around Kunsho Creek in Southern Ijaw, one illegal refining site with 2,000 litres of stolen crude was handled.
Additionally, troops thwarted an attempt to compromise Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline at Kumbo 4 Flow line in Ekeremor LGA.
In Delta State, troops intercepted a tanker truck positioned to siphon crude oil from Platform Petroleum Limited Pipeline at Obiukwole Community in Ethiope East LGA, and arrested four suspected oil thieves at the scene.
While troops continue to dominate both the hinterland and waterways to ward off criminal activities in Akwa Ibom State.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their achievement and charged them to sustain the tempo against oil thieves.
He reassured that criminals will not be allowed freedom of action to have any foothold in the region.
