Port Harcourt – Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled 18 illegal refineries and arrested 39 suspected oil thieves in a major six-day operation across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states.
The operation, conducted from March 24 to 30, 2025, also led to the seizure of over 60,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products. The Army disclosed this in a statement by Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations.
Key Raids & Seizures
- Rivers State: Troops intercepted an 18,000-litre fabricated twin tank and a concealed truck loaded with stolen products along Ochokocho Road. Illegal refining sites were destroyed in Rumuekpe Forest and Imo River, with over 15,000 litres of crude recovered.
- Bayelsa State: Raids in Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw uncovered illegal refineries with 8,000 litres of stolen crude and 300 litres of illegally refined diesel.
- Delta State: Soldiers confiscated illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Warri South and disrupted smuggling networks in Itsekiri communities.
Army Vows Sustained Offensive
Major General Emmanue Emekah, General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, commended the troops and urged them to intensify the crackdown. “Oil thieves must abandon this criminal enterprise or face the full wrath of the law,” he warned.
The operation, conducted alongside sister security agencies, aims to curb crude oil theft and protect Nigeria’s economic assets. Investigations are ongoing, with suspects expected to face prosecution.
