The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ramped up its operations against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, leading to the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves and the destruction of 46 illicit refineries. In collaboration with sister security agencies, the troops also seized 47 boats and recovered over 95,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, marking a significant stride in the ongoing crackdown on oil theft in the region.
Lt Col Danjuma Jonah, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, disclosed these developments in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt. Jonah noted that the recent successes followed an intensified campaign against illegal oil bunkering activities across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states as part of broader efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.
“In our latest operations, we have deactivated 46 illegal refining sites, confiscated 47 boats used for transporting stolen products, and arrested 28 individuals involved in the illicit trade,” the statement read. The Army’s anti-bunkering operations, carried out between November 11 and 17, 2024, were directed at curbing the persistent threat posed by economic saboteurs to the country’s oil sector.
In Rivers State, acting on credible intelligence reports, troops mobilized to the Oando pipeline area in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. Upon arrival, they encountered armed vandals who opened fire. The soldiers retaliated with superior firepower, forcing the criminals to flee. A follow-up search of the area led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a loaded magazine containing 17 rounds of ammunition, and other items abandoned by the fleeing suspects.
The statement also highlighted several successful raids carried out across different parts of the Niger Delta. In the Obiafu-Ndoni axis, large wooden boats carrying 472 sacks of stolen crude oil, estimated to contain about 28,320 litres, were intercepted. Seven suspects were arrested in connection with this operation. Further operations in the Buguma area of Asari Toru LGA resulted in the dismantling of numerous illegal refining sites and the seizure of over 9,500 litres of stolen products.
Similar operations in Degema LGA, particularly around the Tuma and Krakrama areas, saw the destruction of multiple wooden and fibre boats involved in the illegal oil trade. Over 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were confiscated during these activities. At the Bille community in Degema LGA, troops intercepted a wooden boat hidden in a creek, stocked with two drums and over 2,500 litres of stolen products.
Lt Col Jonah also reported that clearance operations along the Imo River stretch led to the destruction of 16 wooden/fibre boats and 15 illegal refining sites. The army seized 41 cooking drums, 25 container receivers, and several pumping machines, recovering more than 12,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the process. Additional operations around Omoku and Obiafu Otuwa in ONELGA resulted in the arrest of several suspects and the confiscation of over 13,000 litres of stolen products.
In Bayelsa State, the army’s heightened operations led to the deactivation of two illegal refining sites and two boats at Tunu and Clough Creeks in Ekeremor LGA, where troops recovered over 6,000 litres of stolen products. Similar actions in the Nembe LGA, particularly around the Abalikiri, Tanagbene, and Olukama areas, resulted in the destruction of several illegal refining sites and the recovery of more than 3,000 litres of stolen products.
Further operations in Ogbia LGA led to the interception of a wooden boat carrying over 3,500 litres of stolen AGO. Troops also recovered over 600 vandalized pipes belonging to the Shell Petroleum Development Company around the Tamogbene Creek in Ekeremor LGA. In Isoko South LGA, Delta State, a Sienna bus loaded with 28 cellophane bags of stolen AGO was intercepted. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the troops.
The statement noted ongoing operations around Heritage Oil Company’s pipeline in the Afiesere community, Ughelli North LGA, where breaches were identified and reported. The Nigerian Army has taken steps to address these breaches, allegedly caused by community vandals.
In Akwa Ibom State, the army intercepted several vehicles transporting stolen AGO along the Ikot Akan community in Ikot Abasi LGA. Over 2,160 litres of stolen products were recovered, and five suspects were apprehended. The army has handed over the seized products and suspects to relevant agencies for proper prosecution.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Maj Gen Jamal Abdussalam, reaffirmed the division’s commitment to safeguarding national infrastructure and combating economic sabotage. He assured the public that the military’s efforts would continue to target illegal bunkering activities, aiming to enhance oil production and reduce losses from theft.
“These operations are part of our sustained efforts to clear the region of economic saboteurs,” Maj Gen Abdussalam stated. “We remain focused on ensuring the security of our oil infrastructure, which is vital to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth.”
The army’s recent actions underline the intensified push to tackle illegal oil activities in the Niger Delta, a region long plagued by oil theft and sabotage, which have significantly impacted Nigeria’s oil revenue. As these operations continue, the military remains on high alert to address the persistent threat of oil bunkering and its associated economic losses.
