The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division has demolished 21 illegal refining sites and arrested 36 suspected oil thieves in a major crackdown across the Niger Delta. The operation, which took place between April 28 and May 11, 2025, resulted in the seizure of over 591,000 litres of stolen products.
In Rivers State, troops uncovered a 15-kilometre hose connected to an illegal loading point in the Orashi Game Reserve/Okolomade area, while dismantling five illegal refining sites. Among the seized items were a large metal tank with over 350,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), a large oven, and over 100,000 litres of stolen crude.
The troops also destroyed seven other illegal refining sites in the Imo River area, confiscating 1,428 bags of crude oil and 21,500 litres of stolen oil. They also demobilized five boats and destroyed 38 drum pots and 15 drum receivers used in illegal refining operations.
In additional operations across the region, including Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta States, the army intercepted various vehicles and boats transporting stolen crude, making several arrests and recovering substantial amounts of illicit oil.
The coordinated effort by the army and other security agencies is part of a larger campaign to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the region.
