Personnel from the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, alongside various security agencies, have successfully recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition while deactivating 46 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta. They also destroyed 47 vessels used to transport stolen petroleum products through challenging terrain.
According to an official statement from the Army, 28 individuals involved in oil theft were arrested, leading to the recovery of more than 95,000 litres of stolen fuel.
The statement noted that these operations, which took place between 11 and 17 November 2024, were part of a concerted effort to tackle illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
The operations targeted criminal networks responsible for illegal oil activities, with troops acting on credible intelligence regarding saboteurs operating along the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA).
When the troops confronted armed vandals in the area, the attackers opened fire, but the superior firepower of the troops forced them to retreat, leaving behind an AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition.
In a separate operation, troops intercepted large wooden boats in the Buguma General Area (Asari Toru LGA), seizing 472 sacks of stolen crude oil, estimated at 28,320 litres. Seven suspects were arrested, and several illegal refining sites were dismantled, with 9,500 litres of stolen petroleum recovered.
The Army’s statement emphasised that these efforts are aimed at dismantling the cartels that profit from illegal oil activities in the region and disrupting their operations.
