Troops of the 6th Division, Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have confiscated stolen goods, arrested oil thieves, and prevented multiple attempts to steal crude oil from compromised pipelines across the region.
During an update on operational activities from the past week, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, reported that 37 illegal refining sites were dismantled, and 12 boats, nine vehicles, and four motorcycles were intercepted while transporting stolen products. Eight suspects were apprehended, and over 230,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.
In Rivers State, near the Abesa area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), troops destroyed an illegal refining site and recovered 9,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Further patrols along the waterways led to the interception of a large wooden boat carrying over 120,000 litres of stolen crude.
At ETEO SETRACO Junction in Eleme LGA, troops uncovered an illegal connection point linked to a facility with a high fence, which was being used as a criminal loading point. Two tanker trucks loading stolen crude were intercepted, resulting in the recovery of over 40,000 litres of stolen products and the arrest of five guards.
In Imo Riverside, troops destroyed over 30 illegal refining sites, including 44 cooking pots, six wooden boats, and a small tanker barge. They recovered over 20,000 litres of stolen products from areas such as Assa, Lekuma, Abiama, Okoloma, and various other creeks. In Bolo Onne Creeks, an inactive refining site was dismantled, and equipment such as an oven, two receivers, a coolant, and a long hose were destroyed. At Omoku Elele Road, troops intercepted a Golf wagon vehicle with registration number SSM 248 TH (Abia State) carrying 17 sacks of stolen condensates, totalling over 1,200 litres. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled upon seeing the troops.
Significant successes were also achieved in Asari-Toru LGA’s Krakrama area, where troops dismantled an illegal refining site and confiscated two locally made boats along with over 13,000 litres of stolen products. Similar operations in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, particularly along Egi River, led to the destruction of another illegal refining site, 12 drums, numerous sacks, two wooden boats, and the confiscation of over 3,500 litres of stolen crude.
In Ekeremor LGA, operations in Ajatitor and Clough Creeks resulted in the destruction of three illegal refining sites, a wooden boat carrying over 7,000 litres of stolen crude, and another 3,000 litres of AGO. Acting on intelligence about illegal bunkering activities around Well 15 Tunu, troops intercepted a wooden boat laden with over 2,000 litres of AGO. In Nembe LGA’s Golubokiri area, Bayelsa State, troops deactivated an illegal refining site and seized over 2,500 litres of stolen crude.
Similar achievements were recorded in Southern Ijaw’s Ejie and Tubo Creeks, where troops destroyed four wooden boats and recovered over 5,000 litres of stolen products. At Okarki in Ahoada West, a Toyota Avalon with registration number LSD 186 AP, loaded with over 1,500 litres of stolen AGO, was intercepted.
In Delta State, troops thwarted oil theft activities, including the interception of a Mack truck with a mounted hose attempting to steal crude oil from a Heritage Oil pipeline in Olomoroh community, Isoko South LGA. The criminals fled, abandoning the vehicle when troops approached. At Opumami Oil Field in Warri South LGA, a wooden boat attempting to siphon crude oil from a wellhead was intercepted and destroyed.
In Akwa Ibom State, following a tip-off, troops arrested a suspect with a Toyota Camry (Reg No BDG 376 GX) transporting 25 nylon bags of stolen AGO in Abak LGA. All seized products and suspects have been handled according to procedures.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their efforts. He emphasised the importance of making the region hostile to criminal elements to ensure unhindered exploration activities. He also urged the public to provide credible information on economic saboteurs and related crimes to security agencies.