By Grace Ademulegun
Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have destroyed 20 illegal oil refineries in Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.
In a weeklong operation conducted between December 30, 2024, and January 5, 2025, the troops also apprehended 11 suspects in connection with the operation of the illegal refineries.
Nigerian Army 6 Division Spokesman, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, made these disclosures in Port Harcourt on Monday, January 6, 2025.
He disclosed that 31 boats, seven cars, and 190,000 gallons of stolen petroleum products had been seized by the army.
“Troops found four oil sewage tanks with more than 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil at Oando Wellhead in Benkrukru, in the Okordia area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State,” Danjuma said.
Along with a suction equipment used in the operations, he continued, troops also found 700 litres of illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) that had been stored in sacks.
Danjuma gave a breakdown of the operation successes.
He said in Amalaghakiri community, Nembe, Bayelsa, 15,000 litres of unidentified petroleum products were confiscated, and two more illicit refining sites were dismantled. Troops seized 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil and closed an artisanal refinery at Oyeregbene in Southern Ijaw.
On January 3, 2025, troops in Rivers State stopped oil thieves in Omoku who were stealing petroleum products.
Danjuma said troops found an illegal connecting point on the Oando Pipeline in Ebocha and confiscated four boats carrying 22,000 litres of stolen crude oil, but the suspects escaped before they could be apprehended.
Four illicit refineries were demolished in the Obiafu oil field and Mbgede in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, and 38,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, five wooden boats and 108 locally constructed ovens were found.
Similar outcomes were observed in Delta State operations, Lt Col. Danjuma said, disclosing that on January 4, 2025, troops dismantled clandestine refineries in the towns of Ozaa West, Obuzor, and Okoloma.
Troops also confiscated 13,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 32 drum pots, 21 drum receivers, and two pumping equipment.
Two J5 Boxer trucks carrying 7,500 litres of crude oil in cellophane packets were stopped during routine patrols along the Pan Ocean Nigeria Ltd. pipeline in Ivada, Ethiopia West.
On January 5, 2025, troops in Akwa Ibom stopped eight drums of petrol in Ibaka, which contained 2,240 gallons. The drums were allegedly being prepared for smuggling to a neighbouring country.
At Ikengbensi Waterways in Delta State’s Isoko South Local Government Area, troops also confiscated 2,500 litres of crude oil.
Lt.-Col. Danjuma highlighted the army’s resolve to end oil theft by stating that the detained suspects would face legal action.