The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has successfully dismantled 24 illegal refineries and apprehended 29 suspects involved in oil theft in the Niger Delta region. The operation, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, resulted in the recovery of over 60,000 liters of stolen petroleum products.
According to a statement from the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma, the crackdown took place between February 3 and 9, 2025, with clearance operations along the Imo River leading to the dismantling of six illegal refining sites.
The operations revealed significant quantities of stolen crude, including a hidden reservoir containing over 1,000 liters in Obigbo, Rivers State, and over 9,000 liters of crude at another site in Buguma. Additional discoveries included several local ovens and reservoirs filled with illegally refined oil.
In Delta State, troops seized over 2,800 liters of stolen crude near a pipeline, while in Bayelsa State, two illegal refining sites were destroyed. The army emphasized its commitment to combating illegal refining and oil theft in the region, warning that efforts will continue to prevent economic sabotage.
