Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian army confiscated 190,000 litres of “stolen” petroleum products after intercepting seven vehicles in the Niger Delta.
In a statement on Sunday, Danjuma Jonah, the acting deputy director of the 6 Division army public relations, said the army, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intensified the ongoing operations to dismantle the network of criminal enterprises run by oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.
Jonah said the operation, conducted from December 30, 2024, to January 5, 2025, aimed to disrupt the activities of oil thieves.
“In the operations conducted across the joint operations area, 20 illegal refining sites were destroyed, Eleven suspected oil thieves were arrested, 31 boats used for transporting stolen products destroyed, Seven vehicles intercepted with over 190,000 litres of stolen products recovered,” Jonah said.
“In a deliberate operation conducted around Oando wellhead at Benkrukru at Okordia general area in Yenagoa, Local Government Area (LGA), Four oil sewage were discovered. The sewage were filled with over 70,000 litres of stolen crude.
“Additionally, one suction machine and about 700 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) packed in sacks were recovered. Relatedly, at Amalaghakiri general area in Nembe LGA, two illegal refining sites were taken out, with over 15,000 litres of stolen products confiscated.
“While at Oyeregbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, one illegal refining site was destroyed with over 1,500 litres of stolen products handled appropriately.”
TROOPS DISCOVER ILLEGAL CONNECTION TO OANDO PIPELINE
Jonah said troops near Omoku, a town in Rivers state, closed in on oil thieves who fled on sighting the troops.
According to him, further investigation revealed an illegal connection point on the Oando pipeline around Ebocha, where four boats laden with over 22,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.
“At Obiafu Oil field, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, wooden boats and dugout pits stocked with over 8,000 litres of stolen products were handled. Around Mbede, 4 illegal refining sites, five wooden boats, 108 locally made ovens, several tanks with over 31,000 litres of stolen products were recovered,” Jonah said.
“At the fringes of the Imo River, over 13,000 litres of stolen products were recovered with 2 illegal refining sites destroyed, 32 drums pots, 21 drum receivers, two pumping machines amongst several other ancillary equipment were also destroyed around Ozaa West, Obuzor and Okoloma areas.”
VEHICLES INTERCEPTED IN DELTA STATE OIL THEFT BUST
Jonah said the troops in Delta state, during routine patrols along the Pan Ocean Nigeria Limited pipeline within Ivade in Ethiope west LGA, intercepted vehicles involved in illegal activities.
“Two J5 Boxer vehicles with Reg Nos AB 5980 J and Delta Bkw 593 XA with over 150 cellphone bags stocked with over 7,500 litres of stolen products were intercepted,” he said.
“Other seizures estimated to be about 2,500 litres of crude oil were effected at Ikengbensi waterways in Isoko South LGA.
“While in Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted Eight drums of 280 litres stocked with premium motor spirit, estimated to be 2,240 litres at Ibaka beach. The products were suspected to be primed for smuggling to a neighbouring country.”
Jamal Abdussalam, the general officer commanding the 6 division Nigerian Army, praised the troops for their resilience and encouraged them to intensify their efforts.
Abdussalam emphasised that their increased efforts will create a secure environment, allowing socio-economic activities to thrive uninterrupted in the region.
