Army uncovers 27 illegal refineries, nabs 43 oil thieves in N’Delta

The Nigerian Army, 6 Division said it’s troops have uncovered fresh 27 illegal refining sites and arrested 43 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.

Also, it said operatives recovered 161,000 litres of stolen products during a nearly two-week operation in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta States, respectively.

The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday and sent to newsmen.

The statement reads, “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves, uncovered 27 illegal bunkering sites as well as recovered over 161,000 litres of stolen products across the Niger Delta Region in the latest crackdown.

“The operations were conducted in synergy with other security agencies between 26 May – 8 June 2025.

“In Bayelsa State, along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 connected to an illegal refining site. In a follow up operations conducted, five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.”

Danjuma further said, in Biseni Community, Adibawa in Yenagoa LGA, two illegal connection points connected to the pipeline, linked to an illegal refining site, were discovered.

19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping, 6 metallic drum receivers stocked with over 4,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil and over 27,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 460 sacks were handled.

Danjuma further said in the statement that, “Additionally, operations conducted at Luka Creek, around Lagosgbene in Southern Ijaw LGA, led to the discovery of an illegal refining site with over 1,500 litres of stolen products confiscated.

“At Tamogbene in Ekeremor LGA, 71 big pipes, 30 small pipes, concealed under logs of wood, one 40HP engine and a wooden boat were recovered. Two suspected vandals conveying the items in a boat absconded on sighting troops.”

Punch