Troops Destroy 578 Illegal Refineries, Arrest 681 Culprits in Five Months

This was disclosed by the Commander of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral John Okeke Magudu, while giving the latest update.

Oil theft has been regarded as one of the constraints limiting the country from hitting its ambitious 3 million barrels per day target, so military efforts have been taken to staunch the issue.

In the update, the official said the troops also destroyed 13 militants’/sea pirates’ operational bases and recovered 653 illegal weapons within the period.

Some of the arrested suspects have already been convicted, while others are still undergoing trials in various courts of law.

The Commander made this known at a media briefing with Defence correspondents on a tour of operations of OPDS, in the Niger Delta.

Represented by the maritime component commander, Commodore Patrick Meteke, while noting the difficulty in the fight against crude theft, said the criminals take advantage of the swampy, waterlogged terrain crisscrossed by numerous rivers and creeks to carry out their illicit activities.

He listed the prevalence of crime bedeviling the region, which is also threatening the nation’s economy, to include crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering/refining, smuggling, sea robbery, militancy, kidnapping, cultism, communal-related issues, as well as threats to pipeline security.

He said the OPDS consistently conducts operations at flashpoints, maintaining threat levels at a minimum in most cases.

While noting that the non-kinetic strategy adopted by the Joint Task Force has become a force multiplier in winning hearts and minds across host communities, the commander said aside from the military operations targeting illegal refineries and pipeline vandals, OPDS has embarked on community outreach programmes such as free medical outreaches, borehole projects, and school renovations to improve the lives of local populations.

“These humanitarian projects are not just gestures of goodwill; they are part of our broader strategy to build trust with communities,” he explained.

“Through them, we are receiving credible intelligence on criminal hideouts, illegal refinery camps, and planned sabotage attacks. People are more willing to cooperate with us when they see our presence translating into real benefits,” he added.

He further stated that community leaders and youth groups who had before now been suspicious of military presence in their communities now actively participate in intelligence sharing and security sensitization.

The official also said such synergy has led to the dismantling of several illegal refining sites and the arrest of high-profile oil thieves.

“We believe that security must be holistic. “The more stable and empowered these communities are, the less likely they are to harbour or support criminal elements. Development and security must go hand in hand.”