Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies have deactivated 56 illegal oil bunkering sanctuaries, 88 cooking drums, and 20 boats in the Nigeria Delta region.
The operation, which took place from November 25 to December 1, 2024, resulted
in the recovering 1.2 million litres of stolen crude.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director, 6th Division Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, made available to the press in Abuja, confirmed that troops arrested 17 suspected oil thieves, intercepted seven vehicles, discovered six illegal connection points, and destroyed five motorcycles used for economic sabotage.
Jonah said the troops also deactivated 15 illegal refining sites at an abandoned Oando wellhead in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa Local Government Area, recovering over 755,000 litres of stolen crude and 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Bayelsa state.
“Similarly, in Rivers State, the troops discovered an illegal connection on a 36-inch government pipeline in Kula I, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, and recovered a ground reservoir containing over 100,000 litres of stolen products.
The statement said the operation also led to the arrest of three suspected oil thieves in connection with economic sabotage in Degema Local Government Area. Eight illegal refining sites with over 27,000 litres of stolen crude were also confiscated.
“In addition, three wooden boats, one fibre speed boat, several pots of different sizes, two receivers containing AGO, and a local boat with over 12,000 litres of stolen products were intercepted.
He said the operation was also extended to Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, where an abandoned truck laden with 35,000 litres of stolen crude stocked in a fabricated tank and concealed with bags of sawdust was uncovered.
Also at Imo River, eleven illegal refining sites, 88 cooking drums, 26 metal container receivers, 14 plastic tanks, eleven boats, four pumping machines with over 42,500 litres of stolen crude were recovered, with three suspects arrested.
“Around the Obiafu Oil Field, several vehicles were intercepted with over 5,500 litres of stolen products recovered.
