Army dismantle 14 illegal refineries, arrest 14 suspected oil thieves

 

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, have dismantled 14 illegal refining hubs across the Niger Delta region.

In the course of the operations, 14 suspected oil thieves were arrested and over 20,205 litres of stolen petroleum products confiscated.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, 6

 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the operations were conducted between 20 October and 9 November 2025, in collaboration with other security agencies as part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft in the region.

The statement disclosed that in Rivers State, along the fringes of the Imo River, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites, destroyed 14 drum pots and nine drum receivers, and seized over 8,000 litres of stolen products.

The illegal sites were discovered around Asa, Okonta, and Okoloma communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State; Ozochi Community in Ahoada East LGA; Angalama Community in Asari-Toru LGA; and Obuzor in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.

The statement added, “Additionally, recoveries were also made at the abandoned Wellhead 3, around the remote manifold axis, where forty-two sacks containing over 1,250 litres of stolen crude oil were seized.”

In Delta State, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma stated that troops arrested three suspected oil thieves and discovered an active illegal refining site with a cooking oven and 38 sacks containing over 1,140 litres of stolen crude oil in Eruemukohwarien, Ughelli North LGA, and Bipoko Community in Warri South LGA.

“In Delta State, around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA, troops arrested three suspected oil thieves and impounded a J5 bus and one motorcycle, recovering over 4,000 litres of condensate.

“Also, at Bipoko Community in Warri South LGA, troops discovered an active illegal refining site with a cooking oven and thirty-eight sacks filled with over 1,140 litres of stolen crude oil,” he said.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted a truck transloading Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, from an underground storage facility at Olive Field Filling Station along the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road in Ikot Ekpene LGA, following actionable intelligence.

He added, “The truck was loaded with over 3,287 litres of illegally refined AGO.”

In Bayelsa State, he noted, “Troops also sustained operations against economic saboteurs. All the suspects arrested, as well as the confiscated products, were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate.”

The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their successful operations and urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against oil theft and other criminal activities in the region.