Troops Bust 56 Illegal Oil Sites, Recover Over 1.2 Million Litres of Stolen Crude in Niger Delta

The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has intensified its crackdown on illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, deactivating 56 illegal oil sanctuaries and recovering over 1.2 million litres of stolen crude during a week-long operation from November 25 to December 1, 2024.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the division, disclosed in a statement that 17 suspected oil thieves were arrested, and 88 cooking drums, 20 boats, and several vehicles used in the illicit trade were destroyed across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states.

. Bayelsa State:

• • In Okordia Forest, Yenagoa LGA, troops dismantled 15 illegal refining sites, recovering over 755,000 litres of stolen crude and 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
  • In Biseni Forest, 12 illegal refining sites were deactivated, yielding 34,000 litres of crude and 5,500 litres of refined AGO.
• Rivers State:
  • At Kula I in Akuku-Toru LGA, a 36-inch government pipeline with an illegal three-inch hose connection was discovered, alongside 100,000 litres of stolen crude stored in a tarpaulin reservoir.
  • In Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops uncovered a truck laden with 35,000 litres of stolen crude concealed with sawdust.
  • At Degema LGA, eight illegal sites and reservoirs with over 27,000 litres of crude were dismantled, while in Bukuma community, another site containing 5,000 litres of crude was shut down.
• Delta State:
  • In Orhionwon LGA, Edo State, one suspect led troops to a site where over 40,000 litres of stolen crude were found in 200 sacks, alongside a stationary vehicle ready for smuggling.
• Akwa Ibom State:
  • Acting on intelligence, troops intercepted 5,580 litres of petroleum motor spirit at Enwang Bridge, Mbo LGA, prepared for smuggling to a neighboring country.

Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, praised the troops for their success and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to combating economic sabotage in the region. He assured that efforts to protect Nigeria’s critical infrastructure would be sustained.

This operation is part of a broader campaign to tackle the persistent issue of oil theft and sabotage, a challenge that has long plagued Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.