Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have arrested 62 suspects involved in oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
By Chimezie Godfrey
Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have arrested 62 suspects involved in oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region.
The arrests were made during coordinated operations carried out in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom States between July 14 and 20, 2025, according to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations.
The army said 14 illegal refining sites were dismantled, five boats seized, and more than 350,000 litres of stolen petroleum products recovered during the operations.
In Rivers State, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites around an abandoned wellhead in Joinkrama 4, Ahoada West LGA. Items recovered include 300,000 litres of crude oil, 21,000 litres of AGO, six large ovens, a generator, a welding machine, and shovels.
In Obiafor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, additional illegal sites were discovered along with three dug-out pits — two containing over 5,700 litres of stolen crude and one filled with unquantified AGO. A Sienna vehicle without registration number was also intercepted in Elele, Ikwerre LGA, loaded with 32 sacks holding about 1,920 litres of stolen AGO.
In Bayelsa, troops dismantled four illegal refining sites and four pits around Biseni in Yenagoa LGA, recovering over 10,000 litres of AGO and dismantling five cooking ovens.
Troops also arrested two suspects in Delta State’s Sapele LGA, seizing two boats loaded with 30 cellophane bags filled with 1,500 litres of illegally refined AGO. In Akwa Ibom, troops continued clearance operations to deny criminal elements freedom of movement.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops and urged them to maintain the operational tempo.