By Victor Akaa.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, Saturday embarked on a strategic inspection tour to boost troops’ morale and combat readiness in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).
According to the 6 Division’s Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the GOC visited troops’ locations around Ibaa and Rumuji waterways in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
He noted that whilst at the locations, Major General Emekah assessed the troops’ operational readiness and disposition in combating oil thieves and sundry crimes.
During his visit, Major General Emekah stopped by the notorious Ibaa bunkering hub, where he received a briefing on the rampant criminality in the area.
He also visited TotalEnergies to discuss ways to prevent pipeline infractions, reduce oil theft, and combat associated crimes in the NDR.
Meanwhile, according to the statement, troops have been actively combating economic saboteurs in the NDR.
From March 10-16, 2025, they conducted several operations, resulting in the dismantling of 21 illegal refining sites, demobilization of 8 boats, arrest of 32 suspected oil thieves, and confiscation of over 160,000 liters of stolen products.
In Rivers State, the Division’s spokesperson said troops intercepted a truck without plate number, loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen crude along Apajo – Elelenwo Road in Obio – Akpor LGA.
At Olughighi ahead of Freedom, at Opobo River, troops uncovered a newly constructed illegal refining site with 10 trains, three pots and a dump having over 20,000 liters of stolen products.
Also, around Bille in Degema LGA, one large receiver, metal pipes, cooling system, shelter, 100 meters hose with a reservoir stocked with over 2,000 liters of stolen products were handled in accordance with subsisting operational mandate.
The statement noted that while around Ogaji – Ama Creeks in Asari-Toru LGA, 32 sacks filled with over 1,600 litres of stolen products were recovered.
At the fringes of Imo River, several illegal refining sites, over 90 drum pots, 40 drum receivers as well as unquantified quantity of stolen products were handled appropriately.
Similarly, in Delta State, along Ughelli – Patani expressway, a Mack Tanker conveying 45,000 liters of products suspected to be stolen crude was intercepted.
Around Ndemili Community in Ika South LGA, troops intercepted three vehicles ( 2 Ford J5 vehicles and one Sequoia Jeep) conveying over 5,000 liters of stolen products stocked in sacks. Two suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene.
Relatedly, troops on routine patrols at the densely forested and swampy areas of Eretu Forest in Sapele LGA, discovered an illegal bunkering camp concealed under the forest.
The camp had two cooking ovens and 15 cellophane bags filled with over 1,200 liters of stolen products. At Ode Itsekiri Community in Warri South LGA, one local canoe loaded with 50 cellophane bags filled with over 1,100 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, were intercepted and handled accordingly.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, along Ladugbene – Ayeregbene Communities in Southern Ijaw LGA (SILGA), one illegal refining site with a boat with over 1,500 liters of stolen products were handled appropriately.
Other seizures were made around Tanaghene, Isonogbene and Otugbene, all in SILGA and Biseni Community in Yenagoa LGA, where Ten big cooking pots, three drum pots and five receivers were demobilized.
Relatedly, in Akwa Ibom State, troops have proactively maintained vigilance along the waterways and hinterlands to thwart possible economic sabotage.
Major General Emekah commended the troops’ resilience and urged them to maintain their operational tempo to deny economic saboteurs freedom of action.
He also affirmed that, troops in the NDR have resolved to continually rid the region of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and associated crimes.
