Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 43 suspects and confiscated over 254,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in a major crackdown on oil theft across the Niger Delta region.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, on behalf of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army.

The statement covered joint operations conducted between March 31 and April 6, 2025, across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States.

In Rivers State, troops carried out raids in several oil theft-prone areas. At Ataba in the Andoni Local Government Area (LGA), a major illegal refining site was dismantled, forcing operators to flee as troops recovered over 80,000 litres of crude oil.

Similarly, in Eleme LGA, soldiers intercepted 80 sacks containing approximately 3,200 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products near Ogale Junction.

The Army said troops also stormed a forest in Okarki, Ahoada West LGA, where they discovered a large cooking oven filled with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude.

The statement described the operation as a “significant blow to the network of economic saboteurs operating in the area.”

Additional operations were carried out in Omoku, Aloloba (Kula II), Oshie, and Krakrama, where vehicles and storage facilities used for illegal bunkering were seized. The Army noted that ongoing clearance operations along the fringes of the Imo River are yielding what it called “desired results.”

In Delta State, troops uncovered an extensive illegal bunkering site at Old Ogorode in Sapele LGA. A Ford Bus marked KLK 797 HR, loaded with 90,000 litres of stolen crude, was among the discoveries. Other items seized included 74 drums filled with 14,800 litres of product, a tank containing 20,000 litres, and over 100 empty drums. Two suspects were apprehended.

The statement revealed that a separate interception in Sapele involved a Volvo Canter truck carrying 56 drums with 13,400 litres of products. In Ughelli North LGA, a mini tanker was stopped with 11,000 litres of illegally refined AGO. “Three suspects were arrested during these operations and are currently in custody,” the Army added.

In Bayelsa State, the troops dismantled illegal refining sites in Okordia, Yenagoa LGA, where three ovens, four refining drums, and several pits containing 8,000 litres of crude were destroyed. A second site in Biseni, along Taylor Creek, had eight mini ovens and seven refining drums with 5,500 litres of product. Another site was also deactivated at Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA.

Operations in Akwa Ibom State continued with the destruction of camps and equipment used for refining stolen crude. The statement noted that “the intensity of the operations is aimed at dislodging criminal elements and denying them freedom of action.”

“All arrested suspects have been handed over to the appropriate authorities, and the seized items are being processed according to established procedures,” the statement explained.

Commending the troops, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, emphasized the importance of joint efforts in sustaining the campaign. He stated, “This onslaught will not only cripple the network of oil thieves but also ramp up oil and gas production for our nation’s economic prosperity.”

The Army reiterated its resolve to protect the nation’s economic lifelines, warning that the crackdown would continue. “We will maintain the tempo of these operations until these economic saboteurs are completely neutralized,” the statement affirmed.