Troops Recover 1.2 Million Litres Of Stolen Crude And Destroy 56 Illegal Refineries In Niger Delta

Troops from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have successfully recovered 1.2 million litres of stolen crude, destroyed 56 illegal refineries, and arrested 17 suspects in the Niger Delta.  

According to a statement by Acting Deputy Director Jonah Danjuma, the operations took place from November 25 to December 1, 2024, across four states: Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom. The military also destroyed 88 cooking drums and 20 boats used in illegal oil activities.

During the operations, troops deactivated 56 illegal oil bunkering sites, confiscated stolen crude, and dismantled various facilities used for economic sabotage. They also intercepted seven vehicles, discovered six illegal pipeline connections, and seized five motorcycles used by oil thieves.

In Rivers State, troops uncovered illegal connections on government pipelines, recovering 100,000 litres of stolen crude. In Omoku, another 35,000 litres of stolen crude was found in an abandoned truck. Operations in Degema LGA led to the dismantling of eight illegal refineries, recovering 27,000 litres of stolen crude.

In Bayelsa State, 15 illegal refining sites were destroyed, and over 755,000 litres of stolen crude, along with 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), were recovered. In Biseni Forest, 12 sites were deactivated, and 34,000 litres of stolen crude were seized.

Troops also recovered over 40,000 litres of stolen crude in Delta State and arrested one suspect who led them to another bunkering site. In Warri South LGA, 2,000 litres of AGO was seized, and four suspects were arrested.

Additionally, 5,580 litres of petrol were intercepted in Akwa Ibom State as smugglers attempted to transport the product to a neighboring country.

These efforts are part of the intensified crackdown on illegal oil bunkering in the region, with ongoing operations to combat economic sabotage.