The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has announced the arrest of 14 suspected oil thieves and the seizure of over 20,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta.
According to a statement released in Port Harcourt on Monday by Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Jonah Danjuma, troops also dismantled 14 illegal refining sites during covert operations across several hotspots in the region.
The operations, which spanned more than two weeks, were part of the Army’s continued efforts to curb oil theft and illegal refining activities in the oil-producing areas.
The division reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown on oil theft in collaboration with other security agencies operating in the Niger Delta.
The statement read, “In several operations conducted between 20 October and 9 November 2025, remarkable gains were recorded.
“These resulted in the dismantling of fourteen illegal refining hubs, the arrest of fourteen suspected oil thieves, and the confiscation of over 20,205 litres of stolen products across the region.
“In Rivers State, along the fringes of the Imo River, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites, destroyed fourteen drum pots and nine drum receivers, as well as confiscated over 8,000 litres of stolen products.
“The recoveries were made around Asa, Okonta, and Okoloma in Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State, and Obuzor in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. Additionally, recoveries were also made at the abandoned Wellhead 3, around the remote manifold axis, where forty-two sacks containing over 1,250 litres of stolen crude oil were seized.
“Operations were also conducted around Ozochi Community in Ahoada East LGA, and Angalama Community in Asari-Toru LGA with recoveries made.”
In Delta State, the Army said a similar operation by troops around Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA led to the arrest of three suspected oil thieves while a J5 bus and one motorcycle were impounded.
The statement added, “Also recovering over 4,000 litres of condensate. Also, at Bipoko Community in Warri South LGA, troops discovered an active illegal refining site with a cooking oven and thirty-eight sacks filled with over 1,140 litres of stolen crude oil.
“In Akwa Ibom State, following actionable intelligence, troops intercepted a truck while transloading Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) from an underground storage facility at Olive Field Filling Station along the Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road in Ikot Ekpene LGA.
“The truck was loaded with over 3,287 litres of illegally refined AGO. In Bayelsa State, troops also sustained operations against economic saboteurs. All the suspects arrested, as well as the confiscated products, were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate.”
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for the successes recorded and charged them to sustain the ‘operational tempo’ in the fight against the criminals and economic saboteurs.
