By Victor Akaa.
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have made significant progress in their fight against oil theft, dismantling 20 illegal refining sites and confiscating a staggering 190,000 litres of stolen products in the Niger Delta Region.
According to the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in a statement on Sunday, said the operations, which took place from December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025, also resulted in the arrest of 11 suspected oil thieves.
He noted that troops also destroyed 31 boats used for transporting stolen products, and intercepted seven vehicles carrying over 190,000 litres of stolen products.
He explained that the troops’ efforts were focused on disrupting the network of criminal enterprise run by oil thieves in the region, and their successes have been notable.
In one deliberate operation around the Oando wellhead at Benkrukru, Okordia general area in Yenagoa, four oil sewage were discovered, filled with over 70,000 litres of stolen crude.
Additionally, one suction machine and about 700 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) packed in sacks were recovered.
In other parts of the region, troops also achieved significant successes. At Amalaghakiri general area in Nembe LGA, two illegal refining sites were taken out, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products confiscated.
In Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site was destroyed, with over 1,500 litres of stolen products handled appropriately.
In Rivers State, around Omoku, troops closed in on oil thieves, who fled in disarray on sighting troops, leading to the discovery of an illegal connection point on the Oando Pipeline, with four boats laden with over 22,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
The operations also extended to Delta State, where troops on routine patrol intercepted vehicles involved in illicit activities, recovering over 7,500 litres of stolen products.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eight drums of 280 litres stocked with premium motor spirit, estimated to be 2,240 litres, at Ibaka beach. The products were suspected to be primed for smuggling to a neighbouring country.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their resilience and charged them to redouble their efforts, stating that this will create an enabling environment for socio-economic activities to go on unhindered in the region.
Enugu Reporters noted that the successes of the Nigerian Army in the fight against oil theft are a testament to their commitment to protecting the country’s resources and economy
