Army Deactivates 19 Illegal Refining Sites In Niger Delta,

Troops of the 6th Division, Nigerian Army, have deactivated 19 Illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region as part of the army’s ongoing anti-crude Oil Theft (COT) operations in the area.

Acting deputy director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement issued on Sunday night in Port Harcourt, said the operations were carried out in collaboration with other security agencies.

Danjuma stated that while 20 suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operations in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, over 589,000 litres of stolen products were recovered during the exercise.

The statement reads in part: “The ongoing anti Crude Oil Theft (COT) operations in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) is progressing with several successes recorded. In multiple operations conducted across the Niger Delta region between 19 and 25 May 2025, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army with other security agencies have successfully dismantled 19 illegal refining sites, with 20 suspected oil thieves apprehended and over 589,000 litres of stolen products recovered.

“The anti-COT operations conducted by the troops in Rivers State, around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi forests in Abua/Odual local government area (of Rivers State), uncovered several illegal refining sites, eight cooking ovens and massive storage facilities filled with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil, seven reservoirs, six receivers and a generator were recovered.

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“Relatedly, at the fringes of the Imo River, nine illegal refining sites were taken out, with 23 drum pots, ten drum receivers, 321 sacks and over 16,000 litres of stolen products handled in consonance with operational mandate.

“Troops of the Division also projected operations into Ndoni at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, where 245 sacks filled with 12,500 litres illegally refined AGO were recovered.

“Similar operations were conducted around Ogbonga forest in Bonny LGA, where troops apprehended a suspected oil thief with a fibre-hand-pulled boat and a 400-meter hose, evidently stained with crude oil. Four spanners and a TECHNO T353 mobile phone were also recovered among several other items.

“In Delta State, troops uncovered an illegal refining site at Jeddo in Okpe LGA, where over 1,000 litres of stolen products stored in polythene bags were recovered. Likewise, troops deactivated several illegal refining sites at Ogbu Aladja in Warri South LGA, and several sacks filled with unquantified illegally refined AGO were recovered.

“Similarly, in Bayelsa State, troops dismantled an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, with four cooking ovens, drums and receivers destroyed and several litres of stolen products confiscated. While in Akwa Ibom State, troops have dominated both the land, waterways and the Creeks, effectively denying economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action.

“The apprehended oil thieves were handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while the products confiscated have been handled in line with the extant operational mandate.”

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, has reassured that troops of the 6 Division will continue to intensify efforts to identify other illegal refining sites and ensure their dismantling.