Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army have smashed 18 illegal bunkering sites and arrested 28 suspected oil thieves across Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.
The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Danjuma said the operations were conducted between April 7 and 13, 2025, in collaboration with other security agencies.
“Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have thwarted several attempts to re-establish new illegal bunkering camps in the Niger Delta region. These efforts led to the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves, the dismantling of 18 illegal bunkering sites, and the recovery of over 72,000 litres of stolen products across the region,”; he said.
According to the statement, in Rivers State, troops intensified operations that disrupted illegal bunkering activities around Joinkrama 4 Forest in Ahoada West Local Government Area, where welding machines and newly constructed drums were recovered.
The statement further stated following credible intelligence, troops raided De Tropicana Hotel in the same LGA and intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles loaded with over 1,300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, AGO, which were abandoned by fleeing drivers.
At Krakrama Wellhead 12 in Bille, Degema LGA, the stated disclosed that three suspects attempting to compromise the facility were arrested.
Three wooden boats loaded with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil were also recovered, while four other suspects were arrested during follow-up operations at the same location.
Several pieces of equipment used in illegal activities were destroyed in Okarki.
It also said that at the fringes of the Imo River, six illegal refining sites were deactivated, with 41 drum pots, 18 drum receivers, and 540 sacks containing over 11,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
Troops also destroyed newly constructed bunkering infrastructure to prevent the re-establishment of the sites.
In Delta State, along the Koko–Obitigbo Road, troops intercepted a canter truck, a Ford bus, and a fuel tanker conveying over 25,200 litres of stolen products.
A separate operation also led to the interception of a fuel tanker carrying over 10,000 litres of stolen crude in Koko.
In the Oton–Urakpa area of Sapele LGA, an illegal bunkering camp was discovered deep in the forest, where troops recovered 100 cellophane bags containing over 3,350 litres, a drum, and an iron tank filled with illegally refined AGO, along with other bunkering paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, around Biseni Community in Yenagoa LGA, three illegal refining sites were uncovered with over 2,100 litres of stolen crude stored in dugout pits.
At Okordia, in the same LGA, another illegal refining site was deactivated, with more than 1,500 litres of stolen products recovered.
In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eight 30-litre jerricans filled with AGO along the Okobo–Uyo Road in Okobo LGA.
All arrested suspects have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution, while recovered products were disposed of per operational guidelines.
