Troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) have arrested 39 suspected crude oil thieves and also dismantled 18 illegal bunkering sites in the Niger Delta region.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, stating that the operations were conducted March 24 and 30, 2025 which lead to the seizure of over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
According to him, several illegal refining sites, were dismantled, and over 15,000 litres of stolen petroleum products was recovered on the Imo River.
He also disclosed that two illegal refining sites with over 2,800 litres of stolen products were confiscated around Rumuekpe Forest in Ahoada East Local Government Area in Rivers State.
Danjuma said: “In Bayelsa State, operations conducted yielded the desired outcome. This was evident around Adibawa in Yenagoa Local Government Area, where two illegal refining sites, containing drums and cooking ovens with over 8,000 litres of stolen crude in drums and sacks.’’
An illegal refining site with 1,500 litres of crude oil and 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) was uncovered in Okighene, Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State.
He also stated that troops confiscated jerry cans filled with illegally refined fuel and destroyed cellophane bags in Egbokodo Itsekiri Community, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.