Army Cracks Down on Niger Delta Oil Theft, Arrests 28

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State – The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has intensified its campaign against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, dismantling 18 sites and arresting 28 suspected oil thieves in a week-long operation spanning April 7-13, 2025.

Troops successfully thwarted attempts to establish new illegal bunkering camps across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states. In Rivers State, operations near Joinkrama 4 Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) disrupted construction of new bunkering facilities, leading to the recovery of welding equipment and drums. A subsequent raid on De Tropicana Hotel in the same area resulted in the seizure of over 1,300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) concealed in sacks within two abandoned vehicles.

At Krakrama Wellhead 12 in Degema LGA, soldiers arrested seven suspects and seized over 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil transported in wooden boats. Further operations in Okarki demobilized numerous pieces of illegal equipment. Along the Imo River, six illegal refining sites were deactivated, and over 11,000 litres of stolen products were recovered and destroyed.

In Delta State, along the Koko-Obitigbo road, troops intercepted a canter truck, Ford bus, and fuel tanker carrying over 25,200 litres of stolen products. A separate operation in Koko resulted in the seizure of a tanker holding 10,000 litres of stolen crude. An illegal bunkering camp discovered near Oton-Urakpa in Sapele LGA yielded over 3,350 litres of stolen AGO, along with various refining tools and storage containers.

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Bayelsa State saw the dismantling of three illegal refining sites near Biseni Community in Yenagoa LGA (YELGA), with over 2,100 litres of stolen crude recovered. At Okordia, also in YELGA, another site was destroyed, and 1,500 litres of stolen products were seized.

In Akwa Ibom State, along the Okobo-Uyo road, troops intercepted eight 30-litre jerricans of AGO.

All arrested suspects have been handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution, and recovered products were handled according to operational mandates.

Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, commended the troops’ efforts and reiterated the Army’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for socio-economic activities in the region. He warned criminal elements to cease their activities or face severe consequences.