Troops Deactivate Seven Illegal Refining Sites, Confiscate N150m Stolen Products

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, have recovered stolen crude oil products valued at over N150m.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the troops dismantled several illegal refining sites and arrested four suspected oil thieves, recovering more than 109,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta Region.

He noted that the operations were carried out in collaboration with other security agencies between November 10 and November 23, 2025.


According to the statement, the seized products include over 88,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 21,355 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, AGO.

The operations were executed across Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Bayelsa States.

In the Ahoada local government area of Rivers State, three illegal refining sites were deactivated while 40,000 litres of stolen crude and 20,000 litres of illegally refined AGO were recovered.

The statement read, “At the fringes of the Imo River, troops discovered three illegal refining sites, eight drum pots, seven drum receivers, one fibre boat and over 14,700 litres of stolen crude around Asa, Obeakpo, Lekuma and Abiama in Oyigbo LGA.

“Relatedly, following credible intelligence, troops stormed a compound at Abuloma in Okrika LGA, where they discovered about 1,050 sacks filled with over 32,000 litres of stolen crude.

“At Abonnema Creek in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops intercepted a Cotonou boat loaded with 25 sacks filled with over 1,000 litres of illegally refined AGO.”

And in Akwa Ibom State, troops raided a suspected storage facility at Ikot Akpan, Ekparakwa along the Abak–Ikot Abasi road in Abak LGA, and recovered “over 520 litres of illegally refined AGO stored in a drum and ten jerricans, as well as several empty jerricans, were recovered.”

It added, “In Delta State, troops conducted an operation at DAEWOO yard within Ekpan area in Uvwie LGA.

“On sighting troops, the suspected oil thieves fled into nearby creeks with wooden boats loaded with jerricans.

“Troops also discovered three 25-litre jerricans filled with 75 litres of crude oil. Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, troops have continued to deny criminal elements freedom of action.”

While commending the troops for their steadfastness, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, urged them to maintain the momentum in ensuring that economic saboteurs are deprived of freedom of operation in the Niger Delta Region.

He also appealed to residents of the region to continue supporting military operations by providing credible intelligence on the activities of criminal elements within their communities.