Niger Delta Crackdown: Army Seizes ₦150m Stolen Oil, Arrests 19 Suspects

Niger Delta Crackdown: Army Seizes ₦150m Stolen Oil, Arrests 19 Suspects

The Nigerian Army, through its 6 Division, has arrested 19 suspected oil thieves, destroyed 22 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 180,000 litres of stolen petroleum products valued at about ₦150 million across the Niger Delta.

The successes followed a nearly one-month coordinated military operation conducted between November 23 and December 28, 2025, in collaboration with other security agencies across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom states.

This was disclosed on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, in a statement made available to journalists.

According to Danjuma, the operations were aimed at curbing oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and other related crimes, adding that troops would continue to dominate the operational environment and deny criminals freedom of action.

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He said at Siebou Creek in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State, troops deactivated an illegal refinery and recovered over 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil alongside a pumping machine. Similar operations around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA led to the destruction of several refining sites and the recovery of more than 17,000 litres of stolen products.

At Okarki waterside in Ogbia LGA, troops intercepted a large Cotonou boat loaded with 2,775 litres of stolen crude, while another operation in Eleme and Ahoada West LGAs of Rivers State resulted in the destruction of illegal refineries and the recovery of thousands of litres of stolen crude oil.

In Orashi Forest, Abua/Odual LGA, troops uncovered four illegal refining sites connected by a nine-kilometre-long hose, with ovens capable of processing 30,000 litres each, as well as reservoirs containing over 7,000 litres of crude oil.

Further recoveries were recorded in Bonny Island, Okrika, Ikwerre, and OML 18 Alakiri, where over 6,000 litres of condensates and various bunkering equipment were seized.

In Delta State, troops intercepted a truck along the Asaba–Benin Expressway while offloading 45,000 litres of diverted petroleum products, and arrested suspects linked to illegal bunkering activities in Sapele and Ughelli South LGAs.

Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom State, troops discovered a warehouse stocked with illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) in Abak LGA, recovering multiple jerry cans filled with stolen products.

Commending the troops, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, charged them to sustain the offensive against economic saboteurs and urged residents of the Niger Delta to support security agencies in protecting critical national oil infrastructure.

Niger Delta Crackdown: Army Seizes ₦150m Stolen Oil, Arrests 19 Suspects