Troops Destroy 42 Illegal Refineries, Arrest 29 Suspects In Niger Delta

Troops of 6 Division of Nigerian Army have deactivated 42 illegal refineries and arrested 29 suspects in its sustained fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta in one week.

Reporting on its operations between December 9 and 15, 2024, the army also announced confiscating 197,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and demobilisation of 32 boats, 12 vehicles, and eight motorcycles used for economic sabotage in the region.

Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement said troops conducted several operations around Biseni Forest in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State where they destroyed newly built illegal refining sites and recovered about 37,000 litres of stolen crude.

“This feat was also replicated at Benkrukru, around Oando Wellhead in Okordia Forest, also in Yenagoa LGA, where newly established illegal refining sites with about 29,900 litres of illegally refined crude and 2,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), respectively, were recovered,” the statement read.

In a related development, an illegal refining site with a wooden boat laden with over 5,000 litres of stolen crude was appropriately destroyed at Olukama and Sabasuo areas in Nembe LGA area of the state.

Similarly at Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, a wooden boat hidden inside the creek with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was recovered.

The statement disclosed that similar operations were conducted in Rivers State.

“Around Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, one wooden boat, and five fibre boats were intercepted with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude.

“In a similar vein, at Bille in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites and two wooden boats with about 4,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.

“Along the Imo River, 13 illegal refining sites, 73 drum pots, 40 drum receivers, 11 metal container receivers, as well as over 28,500 litres of stolen products, were handled.

“Seizures were also made along the Elele-Omoku road, Obiafo, Ododa, and Ogbogolo communities in Abual/Odual LGA, Alesa in Eleme LGA, Odagwa-Imo River in Etche LGA, and Coconut Estate in Bonny Island LGA, amongst several other localities,” the Nigerian Army stated.

Also, one active illegal refining site with five ovens, one boat, and about 5,000 litres of illegally refined AGO was discovered at Aronwon Community in Warri North LGA, in Delta State.

Troops also intercepted three tanker trucks loaded with substances suspected to be illegally refined AGO within the premises of Pig Parker Filling Station along Refinery Road in Uvwie LGA.

“Five suspected oil thieves were arrested in connection with the products,” the statement said.

The Acting Deputy Director said that the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for sustaining the tempo and reassured that the ongoing operations would continue to achieve the set target for December 2024.