Troops of Operation Delta Safe have destroyed 49 illegal refining sites and recovered 756,837 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta as part of intensified efforts to combat crude oil theft.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during a monthly operational briefing in Abuja.
He said troops arrested 45 suspects involved in crude oil theft and related crimes while conducting operations across Rivers, Cross River and Edo states.
According to him, several illegal refining locations were uncovered and dismantled, denying oil thieves access to facilities used for illicit activities.
One of the notable operations took place in Okarki Forest, Rivers State, where troops discovered and dismantled three illegal refining sites.
The military said the latest successes continued to frustrate economic saboteurs and support national efforts to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure.
Based on current market estimates, the recovered products could be worth between ₦756 million and ₦908 million, although no official valuation was provided by the Defence Headquarters.
Onoja said anti-oil theft operations would continue alongside efforts to improve security and economic stability in the region.
