- Deactivate 23 Illegal Refineries
The Nigerian Army said it has arrested 25 oil thieves including 4 suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for oil theft in the Niger Delta region.
Spokesperson at the 6 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters in Rivers State, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in a statement he issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening, said the suspects were arrested in Delta State with over 45,000 litres of stolen products recovered during a recent operation in the region.
The statement said the operation which was carried out in continuation of the fight against economic sabotage and associated crimes in the region led to the deactivation of 23 illegal artisanal refineries and destruction of 14 boats in the region.
The operations, he disclosed were conducted across the joint operations area with other sister services from 12 -19 January 2025.
Danjuma in the statement said in Rivers State, the operations resulted in the impoundment of a truck conveying over 15,000 litres of stolen products, along the Eastwest road by Tank to Eneka in Obia – Akpor Local Government Area (LGA). Around Karakarma area in Degema LGA, troops deactivated Seven illegal refining sites, impounded four fibre boats as well as recovered over 12,000 litres of stolen products.
Similarly, he said around Bille also in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites, three receivers, three pots of different sizes stocked with over 2,400 stolen products were handled.
Additionally, he stated that troops also made inroads into the Imo Riverside, where 13 illegal refining sites, 25 drum pots, 24 receivers and 6 metal containers were destroyed with over 7,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
Others include several empty gallons, four hollow pipes, motorcycles and a boat used for the heinous crime were taken out. At Oga – Ama corridor in Buguma LGA, four boats and over 2,700 litres of stolen products were deactivated and recovered respectively.
He said the troops also arrested a suspected tug boat and a barge around Finima in Bonny LGA. The barge was alleged to be carrying stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
In Delta State, the Army Spokesperson said a sting operation was conducted, where troops arrested four suspected members of the proscribed IPOB at Power line Bonsac general area in Oshimili LGA.
Several items were recovered from them, in addition to several motorcycles intercepted, while conveying stolen products around Abor Community junction to Kwale in Ndokwa West LGA. Relatedly, along Yokri River in Burutu LGA, five dugout pits with unquantified quantity of stolen products were destroyed.
In Bayelsa State, along Okarki to Otuasega road in Ogbia LGA, troops intercepted two Toyota Avalon with Reg Numbers AN AUG 964 TN and By By SAG 513 EA loaded with unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO.
The vehicles and products have been handled inline with subsisting operational mandate. While, in Akwa troops maintain the requisite operational posture to ward off criminal elements.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam while saluting the doggedness of troops, implored them to increase the operational tempo. He further charged them to deny criminal elements, particularly members of IPOB any foothold in the region.
