The Nigerian Army has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, arresting 69 suspects and dismantling nine illegal refining sites during a two-week operation.
Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt. He said the operation, which ran from August 11 to 24, 2025, was jointly executed with other security agencies across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.
Danjuma explained that troops not only arrested suspects but also seized over 32,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
“Our troops recorded significant achievements, including the destruction of nine illegal refining sites, the arrest of 69 individuals involved in oil theft, and the recovery of thousands of litres of illicit petroleum products,” he stated.
State-by-State Breakdown of Operations
Delta State: Two trucks conveying more than 15,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were intercepted in Sapele LGA, with three suspects arrested. Soldiers also recovered 16 bags of AGO at One Man Village and seized drums and jerricans of products in Nana Town, Warri North.
Rivers State: Troops dismantled three refining sites in Degema LGA, confiscating over 7,000 litres of stolen products and a wooden boat. In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, two boats loaded with condensates were intercepted, while another 1,500 litres of products were recovered in Oyigbo. At Akankurma Okoloma, Okrika LGA, one refining site was destroyed, three suspects arrested, and equipment including a drum pot, receiver, and five drums of crude oil seized
In Andoni LGA, soldiers confiscated a fibre boat, a cooking pot, pipes, and valves. Along the Imo River axis, two sites were dismantled, with four drum pots, two receivers, and 2,000 litres of stolen products recovered around Obuzor and Oyigbo.
Bayelsa State: Troops uncovered an illegal site in Biseni, Yenagoa LGA, where two large reservoirs contained more than 7,000 litres of crude oil. Drums and receivers found at the site were also destroyed.
Akwa Ibom State: The Army reported maintaining operational presence to deny oil thieves freedom of movement.
Lt. Col. Danjuma confirmed that the arrested suspects had been handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution, while seized petroleum products were secured in line with operational protocols.
