Soldiers arrest 16 suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt

Soldiers arrest 16 suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, says its troops have arrested 16 suspected oil thieves and impounded 24,000 litres of stolen oil.

A statement by the division’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, on Thursday, said the operations, which were conducted from 24 February to 2 March 2025, with other agencies, resulted in the destruction of 14 illegal refining sites, and arrest of 16 suspected oil thieves and sundry crimes.

He also said the soldiers confiscated over 24,000 litres of stolen products across the operation area.

 Jonah said, “In Bayelsa State, following credible intelligence, troops destroyed two active illegal refining sites around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA. At the site, over 8,000 litres stolen crude, and over 3,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) stocked in sacks were recovered.

“Other items recovered included one generator, wielding and cutting materials.

Similarly, around Adibawa also in Yenagoa LGA, troops deactivated one illegal refining site, beside Oando Wellhead with over 2,000 litres of stolen crude and 800 illegally refined AGO confiscated.

Other seizures included two wheelbarrows and a pumping machine.

Soldiers arrest 16 suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt