28 suspected oil thieves were on Sunday arrested by the 6 Division, Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Sunday.
Disclosing this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Danjuma Jonah said the troops also destroyed 46 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region.
The Army said during the operation, which ran between November 11 and 17, 2024, in conjunction with other security agencies, 47 boats were seized while 95,000 litres of stolen products were recovered.
Lt-Col. Jonah said the feat followed a scale-up of ongoing anti-illegal oil bunkering operations across the Niger Delta region, pointing out that the latest raids were carried out in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.
Parts of the statement read, “In the latest achievements, troops recovered arms and ammunitions, deactivated 46 illegal refining sites, 47 boats used to ferry stolen products across the treacherous terrain, arrested 28 oil thieves with over 95,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
“In Rivers State, following credible intelligence on the activities of economic saboteurs along the Oando pipeline in Ebocha, New base in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, troops swiftly mobilized to the area. On reaching the spot, troops encountered armed vandals, who opened fire on the troops. In the firefight that ensued, the criminals who were overwhelmed by superior fire, fled in disarray.
“Further exploitation of the general area led to the recovery of one AK-47 riffle, one magazine loaded with 17 rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition abandoned by the fleeing armed vandals.”
It added that relatedly, “several successful operations were conducted in the region. Around Obiafu-Ndoni, large wooden boats were intercepted conveying over 472 sacks of stolen crude estimated to be 28,320 litres.
“Seven suspected oil thieves have been arrested in connection to the heinous crime. Several operations were also conducted around the Buguma general area in Asari Toru LG, which led to the dismantling of numerous illegal refining sites, deactivation of several boats and the recovery of over 9,500 litres of stolen products.
“Operations were also conducted around Tuma and Krakrama general areas in Degema LGA with several wooden and fibre boats destroyed and over 10,500 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil confiscated.”
According to Jonah, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, has reassured that the division would continue to conduct operations to safeguard critical national infrastructure in the region.
The statement noted, “This, he averred will clear the region of economic saboteurs and ensure an increase in oil output.”
