The Nigerian Army has said its troops destroyed 10 illegal refining sites and arrested nine suspected oil thieves during operations across the Niger Delta.
The army disclosed that over 130,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 26,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), valued at about N250m, were recovered during the exercise.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma, made this known in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
He said the operations, conducted between April 1 and April 26, 2026, were carried out in collaboration with other security agencies across Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states.
According to him, the troops recorded significant successes, including the arrest of suspects, dismantling of illegal refining sites and destruction of equipment used for oil theft.
Danjuma noted that in Rivers State, troops intercepted an abandoned truck loaded with about 45,000 litres of stolen petroleum products along the East-West Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
He added that a large reservoir containing over 35,000 litres of stolen crude oil was discovered in the Orashi National Forest, alongside another storage with more than 26,000 litres of illegally refined diesel.
The statement further revealed that troops uncovered multiple illegal storage facilities and refining equipment in various communities, including Ebocha, Abessa Forest and Abua/Odual, where several sacks of stolen crude were confiscated and makeshift refining structures destroyed.
In Delta State, soldiers reportedly uncovered an illegal tapping point connected to a storage pit containing over 2,700 litres of stolen products.
Similarly, in Akwa Ibom State, troops recovered about 1,350 litres of illegally refined diesel in Ikot Ekpene, while suspects fled the scene.
Danjuma added that operations in Bayelsa State had also curtailed the activities of oil thieves, denying them operational freedom.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against oil theft and other economic crimes in the region.
