By Victor Akaa.
In a significant development in the fight against oil theft, Nigerian troops have achieved a major breakthrough, recovering over 212,000 litres of stolen products and deactivating 31 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta Region.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, 6 Division’s Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations in a statement Sunday said the operations, conducted jointly with other security agencies from March 3-9, 2025, also resulted in the arrest of 29 suspected oil thieves and the demobilization of 26 boats used for illicit activities.
According to him, the successful operations were carried out in various states, including Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom.
Reports say, in Rivers State, troops deactivated 10 illegal refining sites, recovered a heavy-duty generator, and seized over 70,000 litres of stolen crude.
He added that they intercepted three suspected oil thieves with a wooden boat laden with over 10,000 litres of stolen products.
He explained that in Delta State, a truck conveying over 35,000 litres of suspected stolen products was intercepted.
According to the statement, five wooden boats used for illicit activities were demobilized, and 4,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.
While in Bayelsa State, troops came under fire from suspected oil thieves but successfully recovered over 12,000 litres of stolen crude and 9,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO).
Other items recovered included seven wheelbarrows and one motorcycle.
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom, over 5,600 litres of illegally refined premium motor spirit were intercepted. The products were suspected to have been primed for smuggling to a neighbouring country through the waterways.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their operational milestone and charged them to sustain the pressure on the criminals.
He also called on economic saboteurs to turn a new leaf and embrace legitimate means of livelihood, or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
