Army Dismantles 18 Illegal Refineries, Nabs 17 In Niger Delta Operation

The Nigerian Army’s 6th Division reports that its soldiers have demolished 18 illicit refining facilities, seized ten boats involved in the illegal activity, and taken 17 suspects into custody in the Niger Delta.

The Army further said no fewer than 25,000 liters of stolen products were recovered during a raid of selected spots in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, respectively.

The Acting Deputy Director, 6, Division, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Sunday.

Danjuma stated that troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, working closely with other security agencies will continue to dominate the operational landscape and deny criminal elements ‘freedom of action’.

The statement read, “In several operations conducted from 17–23 February 2025, eighteen illegal refining sites have been effectively dismantled, seventeen suspected oil thieves arrested, and ten boats demobilized, with the recovery of over 25,000 liters of stolen products across the Niger Delta Region.

“In operations conducted within Rivers State, particularly around Kilometre 45, Idama general area in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA), troops recorded significant operational milestones.

“These included the destruction of two active illegal refining sites, with the interception of three wooden boats loaded with over 9,000 liters of stolen crude. At Ogale junction, along the Eket-Port Harcourt expressway, troops impounded a truck loaded with over 3,000 liters of stolen crude.

“While at Okwuzi in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering dump with over 2,100 liters of illegally refined automotive gasoline oil (AGO), stocked in sacks. The suspected oil thieves fled on sighting troops.”

The statement further said that at the Ogaji-Ama axis in Bukuma, a wooden boat laden with over 1,000 stolen crude was intercepted inside the creek. During clearance operations at Imo River, two illegal refining sites, 23 drum pots, and 14 drum receivers were destroyed, with over 2,000 liters of stolen crude confiscated.

It added, “In Bayelsa State, at Clough Creek in Ekeremor LGA, three illegal refining sites were dismantled, one pumping machine with over 3,500 liters of crude was recovered, as well as two wooden boats demobilized.

“A similar operation was conducted around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, where troops deactivated one illegal refining site with over 2,000 liters of stolen crude recovered.

“In a related vein in Delta State, troops intercepted a Toyota Camry with registration number Anambra JJT 876 AE, conveying 16 cellophane bags with an unspecified quantity of illegally refined AGO at Oton Village in Sapele LGA.

“In a follow-up operation, six suspected oil thieves were arrested. Also, along the Ughelli-Patani expressway, a tricycle conveying several sacks of illegally refined products was intercepted by the troops.”

Speaking, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Emekah, “commended the troops and charged them to sustain the operational tempo in order to deny economic saboteurs any freedom to carry out their nefarious activities in the region.”