The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has reported the destruction of 20 illegal oil refining sites, the recovery of 90,000 litres of stolen products, and the arrest of eight suspects in the Niger Delta region.
This operation was executed in collaboration with other security agencies across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta States.
Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, announced this in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
According to Lt. Col. Danjuma, the operation took place across the four states from December 23rd to December 29th, 2024.
The statement read: “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have sustained the onslaught against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta region.
“This effort led to the dismantling of 20 illegal refining sites, the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves, and the deactivation of 21 boats used in criminal activities. Additionally, over 90,000 litres of stolen products were recovered during the ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the region.”
Acting on intelligence regarding illegal activities around the Buguma general area in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, troops responded effectively, discovering a massive tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat containing over 37,000 litres of stolen condensates.
The statement continued: “At the Ogajiama axis of the Buguma/Bakana general area, also in Asari-Toru LGA, troops engaged in a gun duel with criminal elements who fled due to superior firepower.
“An illegal refining site, one large pot, and a receiver containing 9,000 litres of illegally refined dual-purpose kerosene were appropriately dismantled. This was in addition to three locally made boats intercepted while attempting to load crude from an abandoned wellhead. Three suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operations.
“In a related development, around the Krakrama Community in Degema LGA, troops intercepted two illegal refining sites, four fibre boats, three wooden boats, and approximately 2,000 litres of stolen crude. At Gbede in Omoku, one illegal refining site, 27 locally made ovens, and 31 sacks containing over 2,000 litres of stolen products were confiscated.”
Further operations conducted at Odagwa-Imo Riverside in the Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State resulted in the discovery of an illegal refining site, two drum pots, a wooden boat, and the recovery of over 3,500 litres of stolen products.
In a related development, operations along the banks of the Imo River led to the recovery of seven illegal refining sites, six boats, 122 drum pots, 49 drum receivers, and more than 10,000 litres of stolen products, as stated in the report.
In Bayelsa State, specifically in the Biseni Forest of Yenagoa Local Government Area, one illegal refining site was dismantled, resulting in the confiscation of approximately 8,000 litres of stolen products. Additionally, troops discovered an attempt to vandalize an inactive flowline belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company at Well 20 in the Opukushi area of Ekeremor Local Government Area.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eleven 280-litre drums containing around 3,080 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Enwang II in Mbo Local Government Area. A subsequent operation traced the origin of the product to a loading point at Dazele Filling Station in Ibaka, where an additional 31 drums of PMS, estimated at 8,680 litres, were seized. Initial investigations indicated that these products were intended for smuggling to a neighboring country.
In Delta State, Lt. Col. Danjuma reported that both kinetic and non-kinetic operations were carried out, successfully restricting the activities of criminal elements in the region.
In discussing these operations, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance within the Joint Operations Area to foster a conducive environment for exploration activities in the region. He also urged the public to provide actionable intelligence regarding the activities of economic saboteurs.
