Nigeria: Troops arrest 62 oil thieves, seize 350,000 liters in Niger Delta

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has arrested 62 suspected oil thieves and confiscated over 350,000 liters of stolen products during a series of operations across four states in the Niger Delta region. The operation, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, led to the destruction of 14 illegal refining sites and the seizure of five boats.

In Rivers State, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites around an abandoned wellhead at Joinkrama 4 in Ahoada West Local Government Area. They also discovered six large ovens, reservoirs, and receivers containing approximately 300,000 liters of stolen crude oil and 21,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil.

In Bayelsa State, troops deactivated four illegal refining sites and confiscated over 10,000 liters of stolen AGO. In Delta State, two suspected oil thieves were apprehended with two boats loaded with 30 cellophane bags filled with over 1,500 liters of illegally refined AGO. In Akwa Ibom State, troops dominated the operational landscape, effectively denying criminal elements freedom of action.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Emmanuel Emekah, commended the troops for their successes and urged them to sustain the operational tempo to continue denying economic saboteurs any freedom of action.