…Confiscate 254,000 Litres Of Stolen Products
By Eric Moore
TROOPS of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have arrested 43 oil thieves and confiscated over 254,000 litres of stolen products across their Joint Operations Area (JOA).
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday evening.
Danjuma said, in a reinvigorated onslaught against the criminal enterprise of oil thieves and associated crimes across the JOA, the troops have sustained the pressure on the economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region (NDR).
He stated that the troops recorded the significant strides in multiple operations conducted with other security agencies across the JOA from 31 March 31 to April 6, 2025.
Spokesperson for 6 Division said: “These breakthroughs, resulted in the arrest of 43 suspected oil thieves and associated crimes, deactivation of 14 artisanal refineries, demobilization of 14 boats used for economic sabotage, with several vehicles intercepted and over 254,000 litres of stolen products confiscated across the NDR.
“Relatedly, in notable operations conducted in Delta State, troops uncovered a large-scale illegal bunkering site at Old Ogorode in Sapele Local Government Area (LGA).
“Several items were recovered at the site, including one Ford Bus with Registration number Delta KLK 797 HR loaded with nine drums of 1000 litres each filled with 90,000 litres, 74 drums of 200 litres each stocked with 14,800 litres, and one tank filled with over 20,000 litres of stolen products.
“Other seizures included nine drums of 200 litres capacity each, estimated to be 1,800 litres, 8 drums of 200 litres each filled with illegally refined engine oil estimated to be over 1,600 litres, 90 empty drums, one empty 5,000 litres capacity tank, 8 pumping machines, one Lister generator, and one big generator. This was in addition to two suspected economic saboteurs arrested at the site.
“While in Rivers State, around Ataba general area in Andoni LGA, troops dismantled illegal refining sites, with pots and receivers and over 80,000 litres of stolen crude confiscated. At Ogale junction in Eleme LGA, troops intercepted over 80 sacks filled with 3,200 litres of stolen products.
“Similarly, at Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA, troops swooped on a massive cooking oven stocked with over 3,000 litres of stolen crude. Several items were also recovered at the scene, including a reservoir pit, metal receivers and 100 meters long iron pipes.”
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, around Okordia Community in Yenagoa LGA (YELGA), the troops dismantled an illegal refining site with three ovens, four refining drums, receivers with dug out pits filled with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude.
According to Danjuma, similar operations took place in Akwa Ibom State, with the economic saboteurs and associated criminals denied freedom of action.
He added: “All the suspects arrested have been handed over to relevant agencies, while seizures made were handled in accordance to the subsisting operational mandate in the JOA.”
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, while commending troops for the onslaught, has called on critical stakeholders to continue to work in synergy to rid the region of economic saboteurs.
The GOC further maintained that this efforts will ramp up oil and gas production in the region for the nation’s economic prosperity.
