Troops of the Nigerian Army have intensified their clampdown on oil thieves and pipeline vandals across the Niger Delta, arresting at least 17 suspects and recovering over 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday.
In Rivers State, soldiers on routine patrol around Okarki Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area intercepted a Toyota 4Runner SUV laden with over 1,600 litres of suspected stolen diesel.
“The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled,” Danjuma stated.
Further searches within Ahoada West uncovered 23 sacks of refined petroleum products, while in Degema, a wooden boat carrying large quantities of petroleum products was seized.
Naijaonpoint understands that at Obiafor in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, troops discovered a vandalised pipeline and recovered stolen condensate.
“Items recovered included a 250-metre hose, three-inch metal pipes, and six sacks containing 300 litres of illegally refined AGO (diesel),” the Army said.
The crackdown extended to Delta State, where soldiers stormed an illegal storage hub in Ogwu Community, Warri South LGA.
There, troops found a 20,000-litre storage facility filled with stolen diesel, a tanker truck carrying 10,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and sophisticated pumping and metering machines used for illegal operations.
Also seized were two empty tanks and a tanker truck with registration number BEN 223 ZW (Edo State), loaded with petroleum products.
In Bayelsa State, raids in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area, led to the destruction of dugout pits and illegal refining sites.
A separate operation in Okordia intercepted a Toyota Camry (registration number ASB 71 BG) conveying over 600 litres of illegally refined diesel.
In Akwa Ibom State, Danjuma disclosed that the Army had intensified patrols along notorious oil theft routes, limiting the movement of vandals and crippling their supply chains.
The Army stressed that the ongoing operations were part of efforts to protect national assets, curb economic sabotage, and safeguard the environment in the Niger Delta.
“Our operations will continue until these saboteurs are completely dismantled,” the Army vowed.
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