6 Division Troops Dismantle Nineteen Illegal Refining Sites, Arrest 20 Suspected Oil Thieves In Niger Delta Region

The troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army in collaboration with other security agencies have successfully dismantled 19 illegal refining sites, with 20 suspected oil thieves apprehended and over 589,000 litres of stolen products recovered. 

A statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 6 Division Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah said these feats were achieved in multiple operations on the ongoing anti Crude Oil Theft (COT) in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) between 19 and 25 May 2025. 

The operations conducted by the troops in Rivers State uncovered several illegal refining sites, eight cooking ovens and massive storage facilities filled with over 300,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), over 250,000 litres of stolen crude oil, seven reservoirs, six receivers and a generator were recovered around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi Forests in Abua/Odual Local Government Area (LGA). 

Relatedly, at the fringes of the Imo River, nine illegal refining sites were taken out, with 23 drum pots, ten drum receivers, 321 sacks and over 16,000 litres of stolen products handled in consonance with operational mandate. 

Troops of the Division, also projected operations into Ndoni at Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA, where 245 sacks filled with 12,500 litres illegally refined AGO were recovered. Similar, operations was conducted around Ogbonga Forest in Bonny LGA, where troops apprehended a suspected oil thief with a fibre hand pulled boat and a 400 meters hose, evidently stained with crude oil, four spanners, a TECHNO T353 mobile phone amongst several other items recovered.

Troops in Delta State uncovered an illegal refining site at Jeddo in Okpe LGA, where over 1,000 litres of stolen products stored in polythene bags were recovered. Troops also deactivated a number of illegal refining sites with several sacks filled with unquantified illegally refined AGO recovered at Ogbu Aladja in Warri South LGA. 

In similar operation, troops in Bayelsa State dismantled an illegal refining site around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, with four cooking ovens, drums and receivers destroyed, as well as several litres of stolen products confiscated. Also troops in Akwa Ibom State, dominated both the land, waterways and the Creeks, effectively denying economic saboteurs and associated criminals freedom of action. All apprehended oil thieves were handed over to the appropriate agency for prosecution, while products confiscated have been handled in line with the extant operational mandate.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah has reassured that troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army will continue to intensify efforts at identifying other illegal refining sites and ensure they are dismantled. According to the GOC, this will create an enabling environment for legitimate exploration activities to thrive in the region.