Nigerian Army troops have arrested 62 suspected oil thieves and confiscated over 350,000 litres of stolen crude oil and refined petroleum products in an intensified crackdown on illegal refining operations across the Niger Delta, the military announced Sunday.
The operations, spearheaded by the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, spanned four states — Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom — and took place between July 14 and 20, 2025, in coordinated raids conducted alongside other security agencies.
The most significant gains were recorded in Rivers State, where troops dismantled six illegal refining sites clustered around an abandoned wellhead in Joinkrama 4, Ahoada West Local Government Area.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations (6 Division), troops seized:
Over 300,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 21,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Six refining ovens, reservoirs, and receivers used in processing the stolen crude.
“Our troops have not only disrupted illegal refining operations but also dismantled critical supply chains,” the statement said.
In Obiafor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered dug-out pits holding more than 5,700 litres of crude oil, as well as a boat laden with ten sacks of condensates.
In Elele Town, Ikwerre LGA, a Sienna vehicle without a license plate was intercepted carrying 32 sacks filled with over 1,920 litres of stolen AGO. An illegal tapping point and a pit containing 1,200 litres of condensate were also uncovered nearby, alongside hoses, drums, and metal ovens used in the illegal refining process.
In Bayelsa, troops dismantled four illegal refining camps and four storage pits around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, recovering more than 10,000 litres of AGO and destroying five cooking ovens.
In Delta State, acting on intelligence, soldiers arrested two suspects at Sapele LGA, seizing two boats loaded with 30 bags containing over 1,500 litres of illicitly refined AGO.
In Akwa Ibom, troops reportedly “dominated the operational landscape,” actively deterring illegal refining and restricting the movement of criminal elements, the statement noted.
General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, praised the troops for their sustained efforts and urged them to maintain momentum in the fight against economic sabotage.
“The troops must sustain the operational tempo to continue denying economic saboteurs any freedom of action,” Emekah said.
He also encouraged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible, timely intelligence.
