Oil Theft: Troops Destroy 37 Illegal Refineries, Recover 130,000 Litres of Fuel

These feats were achieved during separate operations conducted between December 16 and 22, 2024, according to a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division, Army Public Relations Danjuma Danjuma.

Mr Danjuma said that around Obiafu in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State, troops destroyed a cluster of nine illegal refining sites, which housed 176 cooking drums, several pumping machines, and locally constructed dumps stocked with over 60,000 litres of stolen products.

These included approximately 50,000 litres of stolen crude oil, 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 6,250 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Four suspected oil thieves were apprehended during the operation.

In Buguma, Asari-Toru LGA, three illegal refining sites, and a large boat were dismantled, with over 24,000 litres of stolen products recovered. Meanwhile, around Bille and Bakana in Degema LGA, three illegal refining sites and three boats (two wooden and one fibre) were intercepted.

Troops recovered over 16,000 litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined DPK from these locations. In Ozorchi Forest, Abua/Odual LGA, four illegal refining sites containing over 10,000 litres of stolen products were also neutralized.

He said similar successes were recorded along the Imo River, where eight illegal refining sites, 50 drum pots, 65 metal container receivers, and over 5,000 litres of stolen products were dismantled during clearance operations.

The Army disclosed that in Bayelsa State, troops uncovered an illegal refining site at Kunsho Creek in Southern Ijaw LGA, where 2,000 litres of stolen crude oil were confiscated. Another operation at Kumbo 4 Flow Line in Ekeremor LGA foiled an attempt to sabotage a Shell Petroleum Development Company pipeline. The vandals fled the scene, abandoning 18-inch pipes and three gas cylinders.