The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has dismantled 19 illegal refineries, arrested 12 suspects, and recovered 138,000 liters of stolen petroleum products in a week-long operation across the Niger Delta. Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, confirmed that the operation, conducted from March 17 to 23, 2025, covered Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta States.
In Rivers State, troops intercepted a tanker carrying 60,000 liters of stolen crude oil, though the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. Clearance operations in Degema Local Government Area uncovered an abandoned refining oven and sacks containing 1,200 liters of stolen crude. In Delta State, security forces seized an illegal bunkering truck loaded with 20,000 liters of stolen crude, while in Akwa Ibom, a Toyota Avalon carrying 1,620 liters of stolen petroleum products was intercepted, leading to the arrest of two occupants.
All arrested suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities, and recovered items have been processed according to security protocols. The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain operations against crude oil theft. He also called on residents to provide credible intelligence to security agencies to support the fight against illegal refining activities.
