The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has reported the dismantling of 20 illegal refining sites, the deactivation of 21 boats involved in the illicit activities, and the recovery of over 90,000 liters of stolen petroleum products during ongoing anti-bunkering operations in the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued over the weekend by Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah, the Division’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, it was revealed that eight suspects were apprehended during operations conducted between December 23 and 29, 2024.
Lt. Col. Jonah noted that troops responded effectively to a tip-off regarding illegal activities in the Buguma area of Asari-Toru Local Government Area. This led to the discovery of a large tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat containing over 37,000 liters of stolen condensate.
At the Ogajiama axis of Buguma/Bakana, troops engaged in a gun battle with criminal elements who fled due to superior firepower. They managed to dismantle an illegal refining site, seizing a large pot and a receiver with 9,000 liters of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
In the operation, three locally made boats were intercepted while they were loading crude from an abandoned wellhead, resulting in the arrest of three suspected oil thieves.
In related operations around the Krakrama Community in Degema LGA, two illegal refining sites were dismantled, along with four fiber boats and three wooden boats, and approximately 2,000 liters of stolen crude were confiscated. At Gbede in Omoku, one illegal refining site, 27 locally made ovens, and 31 sacks containing over 2,000 liters of stolen products were seized.
Furthermore, at Odagwa-Imo Riverside in Etche LGA, troops dismantled another illegal refining site and recovered two drum pots, a wooden boat, and over 3,500 liters of stolen products. In the vicinity of the Imo River, seven illegal refining sites, six boats, 122 drum pots, 49 drum receivers, and over 10,000 liters of stolen products were recovered.
In Bayelsa State, troops dismantled an illegal refining site in Biseni Forest, confiscating about 8,000 liters of stolen fuel. They also uncovered an attempted vandalism of an inactive Shell Petroleum Development Company flowline in the Opukushi area of Ekeremor LGA.
In Akwa Ibom State, eleven 280-liter drums filled with approximately 3,080 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were intercepted at Enwang II in Mbo LGA. Subsequent operations traced the source of the product to a loading point at Dazele Filling Station in Ibaka, where an additional 31 drums of PMS, estimated at 8,680 liters, were seized. Preliminary investigations suggested that these products were intended for smuggling to a neighboring country.
In Delta State, various kinetic and non-kinetic operations were carried out, effectively limiting the freedom of action for criminal elements in the area.
The statement concluded with a message from the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, urging troops to maintain vigilance in the Joint Operations Area to foster a conducive environment for exploration activities in the region.
