by Peace Akpobome

The Nigerian Army has deactivated 42 illicit refining sites and arrested 29 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.

The Army also dismantled infrastructure used for illegal activities, including 32 boats, 12 vehicles, and eight motorcycles, and confiscated 197,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

These feats were achieved during the Army’s operations conducted between December 9 and 15, 2024 as part of its campaign against illegal oil bunkering, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah.

The statement said the operations targeted hotspots across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, aiming to disrupt the region’s crude oil theft network and environmental degradation.

“Troops conducted several operations in Bayelsa State. Around Biseni Forest in Yenagoa LGA, four newly established illegal refining sites were deactivated, with about 37,000 litres of stolen crude recovered,” the Army said in the statement.

“This feat was also replicated at Benkrukru, around the Oando Wellhead in Okordia Forest, also in Yenagoa LGA, where newly established illegal refining sites, with about 29,900 and 2,000 litres of illegally refined crude and Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, respectively, were recovered,” it said.

The Army also handled an illegal refining site with a wooden boat laden with over 5,000 litres of water-stolen crude at Olukama and Sabasuo areas in Nembe LGA. It also recovered a wooden boat hidden inside the creek with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude at Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw.

“Similarly, operations in Rivers State spurred successes. Around Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, one wooden boat, and five fibre boats were intercepted, with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude,” the statement said.

“In a similar vein, at Bille in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites, two wooden boats, and about 4,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.

“Along the Imo River, 13 illegal refining sites, 73 drum pots, 40 drum receivers, and 11 metal container receivers, as well as over 28,500 litres of stolen products, were handled,” it said.

The statement said seizures were also made along Elele-Omoku Road, Obiafo, Ododa, and Ogbogolo communities in Abual/Odual LGA, Alesa in Eleme LGA, Odagwa-Imo River in Etche LGA, and Coconut Estate in Bonny Island LGA, among several other localities.

“In Delta State, at Aronwon Community in Warri North LGA, one active illegal refining site with five ovens, one boat, and about 5,000 litres of illegally refined AGO was deactivated.

“Troops also intercepted three tanker trucks loaded with substances suspected to be illegally refined AGO within the premises of Pig Parker Filling Station along Refinery Road in Uvwie LGA,” it said.

The statement further said the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, reassured Nigerians of the military’s unwavering commitment to sustaining the ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the Niger Delta. He also commended the troops for maintaining a high operational tempo and reiterated that the initiative was aligned with achieving the targets set for December 2024.