In a major crackdown on oil theft, the Nigerian Army has discovered 11 illegal bunkering facilities across four states—Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers—within a six-day operation.
According to Lt. Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesman for the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, the joint operation led to the arrest of seven suspects and the seizure of a large quantity of stolen petroleum products.
During the raids, troops confiscated 13,600 litres of stolen crude oil, 4,890 litres of adulterated diesel, and 37,700 litres of various other petroleum substances. In Rivers State, soldiers stormed the Imo River axis, uncovering six illegal refining sites and retrieving about 11,000 litres of stolen oil.
They also dismantled 41 drum pots, 18 drum receivers, and 540 sack bags containing over 11,000 litres of petroleum products. The troops were able to halt further efforts by oil thieves trying to reconstruct the dismantled sites.
In Ahoada West, troops intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles loaded with more than 1,300 litres of illegally refined diesel. At the Krakrama Wellhead 12 in Bille, Degema, seven suspects were apprehended while attempting to vandalize oil infrastructure. The soldiers also recovered three wooden boats carrying over 1,500 litres of crude oil.
In Delta State, 25,200 litres of unidentified petroleum products and 10,000 litres of crude oil were intercepted from two tankers, a truck, and a bus along the Koko-Obitigbo Road.
Further searches in the Oton-Urakpa area of Sapele revealed 3,350 litres of adulterated diesel stored in 100 cellophane bags, along with three empty drums, two ovens, a metal storage tank, and various hoses and pipes suspected to have been used for siphoning oil from pipelines.
In Bayelsa State, troops uncovered and dismantled four illegal refining sites in the Biseni and Okordia communities, seizing 2,100 litres of crude oil and another 1,500 litres of petroleum products.
In Akwa Ibom, soldiers intercepted 240 litres of illegal diesel stored in eight jerrycans during a patrol along the Okobo-Uyo Road.
Lt. Col. Danjuma confirmed that all suspects have been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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