Nigerian Army Intensifies Crackdown on Oil Theft, Scores Major Victories

The Nigerian Army has stepped up its efforts to combat illicit refining and oil theft in the Niger Delta region, dismantling over 56 illegal oil bunkering sites and arresting 17 suspects in a series of operations conducted between November 25 and December 1, 2024.

In a statement released yesterday, the Army’s Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma made it known that their operations in the past week led to the deactivation of 56 illegal oil bunkering sites, the destruction of 88 cooking drums, and the confiscation of 20 boats.

He added that the Army recovered over 1.2 million liters of stolen crude oil, alongside the arrest of 17 suspected oil thieves, the interception of seven vehicles, and the dismantling of six illegal pipeline connections.

According to the military, the operations targeted various locations across the region, including Yenagoa, Bukuma, Imo River, Delta, Edo, and Akwa Ibom states.

In Yenagoa, 15 illegal refining sites in Okordia Forest were shut down, resulting in the seizure of over 755, 000 liters of stolen crude oil and 53,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

“In Rivers State, the operation uncovered an illegal connection to a 36-inch government pipeline in the Kula area of Akuku-Toru LGA. A ground reservoir containing 100,000 liters of stolen crude was also discovered. Meanwhile, in Omoku (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA), troops seized an abandoned truck concealing 35,000 liters of stolen crude in a fabricated tank hidden under sawdust.”

“In Akwa Ibom, leveraging credible intelligence, military personnel intercepted over 5,580 liters of petroleum motor spirit at Enwang Bridge in Mbo LGA. The recovered products were reportedly en route for smuggling to a neighboring country”, the statement read.

Similar successes were achieved in Imo where the military demolished 11 illicit refining resevoirs and 88 cooking drums, recovering almost 42,500 litres of stolen crude oil and arresting three suspects, their operations in the Bukuma community also discovered a reservoir holding 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

 Major General Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, commended the troops for their dedication and reaffirmed the Army’s unwavering commitment to combating oil theft and protecting critical national infrastructure.