Troops destroy 20 illegal refineries, arrest eight in N’Delta
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has successfully dismantled 20 illegal oil refining sites, recovered 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products, and arrested eight suspects in a major operation across the Niger Delta.
The raid, conducted in collaboration with sister security agencies, targeted criminal activities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta States between December 23 and 29, 2024.
The acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, disclosed these achievements in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
He confirmed that the operation led to the destruction of illegal refining sites, the seizure of stolen products, and the deactivation of 21 boats used for criminal activities.
The statement read, “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have sustained the onslaught against economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region. This operation resulted in the dismantling of 20 illegal refining sites, the arrest of eight suspected oil thieves, and the recovery of over 90,000 litres of stolen products.”
The army responded to a tip-off about illegal activities near Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, uncovering a large tarpaulin storage reservoir containing over 37,000 litres of stolen condensates.
In the same area, troops engaged criminal elements in a gunfight, forcing them to flee. The operation also led to the discovery of 9,000 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene and the arrest of three oil thieves.
