In a significant blow to economic saboteurs, troops from the Nigerian Army's 6 Division have intensified their operations across the Niger Delta, leading to the arrest of 19 suspected oil thieves and the destruction of 22 illegal refining sites. The coordinated crackdown, which involved other security agencies, took place between late November and December 2025.
Major Seizures and Arrests Across the Region
Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, detailed the operations' successes. The forces recovered more than 180,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, with an estimated market value exceeding N150 million. These actions have severely disrupted criminal networks engaged in oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
In Bayelsa State, a major illegal refining site was dismantled at Siebu Creek in Ogbienbiri, Southern Ijaw. Troops discovered a massive reservoir holding over 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil along with a pumping machine. Further operations in the state led to the interception of a concealed Cotonou boat at Okarki waterside, loaded with 37 sacks containing 2,775 litres of crude.
Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom Operations
The crackdown extended to Rivers State, where troops uncovered 350 sacks with over 10,500 litres of stolen crude at Ogale Community in Eleme. In the Orashi Forest of Abua/Odual Local Council, a nine-kilometre-long hose was traced to four sophisticated illegal sites equipped with large ovens and storage pits. Troops also prevented an attempted pipeline breach at Gbonga Forest on Bonny Island.
Delta State witnessed a major interception on the Asaba–Benin Expressway in Agbor, where a truck was caught discharging 45,000 litres of diverted petroleum products into a pit. Patrols near the Otorogu Gas Plant led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 1,475 litres of illegally refined condensates.
In Akwa Ibom, a warehouse stocked with illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) was discovered at Ikot Ntuen Village in Abak, with 20 jerricans recovered.
Leadership Commends Troops, Calls for Public Support
The General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, praised the troops for their efforts and urged them to maintain the pressure on those sabotaging the nation's economy. He also appealed to residents of the Niger Delta to continue providing vital support to security agencies in the mission to protect critical national infrastructure from vandalism and theft.
