The 6 Division of the Nigerian Military has ramped up its marketing campaign towards unlawful oil bunkering within the Niger Delta, dismantling 56 unlawful refineries, recovering over 1.2 million liters of stolen crude, and arresting 17 suspects.
The operations, carried out between November 25 and December 1, 2024, spanned Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, in line with the performing Deputy Director of Military Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma.
Danjuma defined that the division’s operatives, working together with different safety companies, executed a collection of raids throughout a number of bunkering websites.
“In Bayelsa State, at an deserted Oando wellhead in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa LGA, 15 unlawful refining websites had been dismantled. Troops recovered over 755,000 liters of stolen crude and 53,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Fuel Oil (AGO),” he stated. He added that “in Biseni Forest, additionally in Yenagoa LGA, 12 unlawful refining websites yielded 34,000 liters of stolen crude and 5,500 liters of illegally refined AGO.”
Danjuma highlighted the numerous findings in Rivers State, saying, “At Kula I, common space in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops found one unlawful connection on a 36-inch authorities pipeline, with a three-inch hose related to it, used as a loading level by oil thieves. A floor reservoir containing 100,000 liters of stolen crude was additionally seized.” He additional famous that “operations in Degema LGA, particularly round Bakana and Buguma, led to the confiscation of 27,000 litres of stolen crude and the interception of a number of vessels and supplies used for oil theft.”
The crackdown prolonged to Imo River, the place troops uncovered “11 unlawful refining websites, 88 cooking drums, 26 metallic container receivers, and 42,500 litres of stolen crude,” Danjuma disclosed.
In Delta State, troops pursued saboteurs to Ugo Group, Edo State. Danjuma stated, “A suspect led troops to a bunkering website the place a storage room was discovered full of stolen crude and over 200 sacks containing 40,000 litres of stolen merchandise. At Yeye, Warri South LGA, troops dismantled an unlawful refining website and confiscated 2,000 liters of illegally refined AGO.”
Akwa Ibom additionally noticed notable success. “Troops intercepted over 5,580 litres of petroleum motor spirit at Enwang Bridge in Mbo LGA, allegedly being ready for smuggling to a neighboring nation,” Danjuma said.
The Common Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, praised the troops for his or her operational successes, emphasising the military’s resolve to safeguard vital nationwide infrastructure and fight financial sabotage within the Niger Delta.
“The combat towards unlawful oil bunkering will proceed with the identical depth to make sure lasting safety and stability within the Niger Delta area,” Abdussalam declared.
The operations underscore the military’s dedication to defending nationwide assets and restoring order within the area, which is significant for Nigeria’s financial and environmental stability.