Nigerian Army forces have delivered a significant blow to illegal oil operations across the Niger Delta region, dismantling numerous illegal refineries and seizing substantial quantities of stolen petroleum products in a comprehensive security operation. The military’s latest campaign represents an intensified effort to combat economic sabotage that has long plagued Nigeria’s oil-rich southern region.
According to official statements released through the Army’s verified social media channels, the operation has yielded impressive results: 20 illegal refining sites destroyed, eight suspected oil thieves arrested, and 21 boats used in illegal activities deactivated. Security forces also recovered over 90,000 liters of stolen oil products during the coordinated raids.
The operation’s success spans multiple local government areas, with particularly significant discoveries in the Buguma area of Asari-Toru LGA. There, troops uncovered a sophisticated operation including a large tarpaulin storage reservoir and a wooden boat containing more than 37,000 liters of stolen condensates.
Further successes were recorded in the Ogajiama area of Buguma/Bakana, where forces dismantled an illegal refining site equipped with large-scale processing equipment and seized 9,000 liters of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). The operation also netted three locally manufactured boats used in the illegal trade.
The military’s sweep through Degema LGA near Krakrama Community proved equally fruitful, resulting in the interception of two illegal refining sites, four fiber boats, three wooden boats, and approximately 2,000 liters of stolen crude oil. The operation extended to Omoku at Gbede, where forces dismantled an illegal refining site containing 27 locally made ovens and seized 31 sacks containing over 2,000 liters of stolen products.
Operations along the Imo River yielded particularly significant results, with the destruction of seven illegal refining sites and six boats. Forces recovered more than 10,000 liters of stolen products and dismantled substantial processing infrastructure, including 122 drum pots and 49 drum receivers.
The campaign’s reach extended to Bayelsa State, where operations in Yenagoa LGA led to the dismantling of an illegal refining site and the seizure of approximately 8,000 liters of stolen oil. Troops also thwarted an attempted vandalism of an inactive Shell Petroleum Development Company flowline at Opukushi in Ekeremor LGA.
In Akwa Ibom State’s Mbo LGA, security forces intercepted eleven 280-liter drums containing roughly 3,080 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Enwang II, demonstrating the operation’s broad geographic scope.
Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, praised the troops’ effectiveness while emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum. He stressed the critical role of community cooperation in achieving lasting success against oil theft and illegal refining operations.
The military’s success in this operation represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against oil theft, which has historically cost the nation billions in lost revenue and environmental damage. The scale and sophistication of the discovered operations underscore the continuing challenge faced by security forces in protecting Nigeria’s vital oil infrastructure.
As the operation continues, military leadership has emphasized the importance of sustained community engagement and intelligence gathering. The Army’s appeal for continued cooperation from local communities highlights the recognition that long-term success in combating oil theft requires active participation from residents of the Niger Delta region.
