By Eric Moore
TROOPS of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested 69 persons suspected to be involved in oil theft and other related offences and confiscated over 32,000 litres of stolen petroleum products as they ramped up the anti-oil theft operations across the Niger Delta region.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday night, said the operations, which were carried out between August 11 and August 24, 2025, in collaboration with other security agencies.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma stated that the operations led to the deactivation of nine illegal refining sites across the region.
The statement said that in Rivers State, troops deactivated three illegal refining sites, recovered over 7,000 litres of stolen products, and seized a wooden boat at Kilometre 45 in Degema LGA, while in Omoku Town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops intercepted two wooden boats loaded with eight sacks of stolen condensates, adding that a dugout pit containing over 1,500 litres of condensate was also discovered near an identified illegal connection point
It further stated that at Izuoma Community around Sampson Estate in Oyigbo LGA of the State, over 1,500 litres of stolen products were also recovered, while at Akankurma Okoloma in Okrika, troops dismantled an illegal refining site and confiscated a drum pot, a receiver, and five drums filled with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude, adding that three suspects were arrested in connection with the offences.
It further stated that in Delta State, the operations led to the interception of two trucks loaded with over 15,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Sapele local government area while three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, adding that at One Man Village in Sapele, troops recovered 16 cellophane bags filled with illegally refined AGO, while at Nana Town in Warri North LGA, several drums and four jerrycans of illegally refined AGO were uncovered.
According to the statement, in Bayelsa State, troops uncovered an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where two large reservoirs filled with over 7,000 litres of stolen crude were discovered. This was in addition to five drums and receivers destroyed at the site. Where as in Akwa Ibom State, troops dominated the operational area, effectively denying criminal elements the freedom to operate.
The statement added that all the suspects were handed over to the appropriate security agencies for prosecution, while products confiscated were handled in line with existing operational mandate.