19 suspected illegal bunkers arrested by army, recovers stolen petroleum products worth N150m

Nigeria Army said it has recovered stolen petroleum product estimated to worth N150,000,000 in its ongoing war against oil theft in the Niger Delta Region. 

The troops of Nigeria Army also arrested 19 suspected oil thieves and dismantled 22 illegal crude refining hubs in the area.

The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, Monday, said the success was recorded in synergy with other sister agencies.

Danjuma said the achievements were made in different operations conducted by the security operatives in different parts of the region between November 23 and December 28.

He said “Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in close synergy with other security agencies, have continued to dominate the operational landscape, effectively denying criminal elements freedom of action across the Niger Delta Region (NDR). 

“In several operations conducted, 19 suspected oil thieves were apprehended, with 22 illegal refining hubs destroyed, and over 180,000 litres of stolen products, worth over One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (₦150,000,000.00), recovered. 

“The operations were conducted between 23 November and 28 December 2025, targeting oil theft, pipeline vandalism and associated crimes in the NDR.”

Danjuma said the operations were conducted in four states of the region, namely, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, adding that values were recovered in all the states.

He said the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, while commending the troops for the successes, called on residents of the region to support the fight against oil theft.

Danjuma said: “Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, while commending troops for the successes recorded, charged them to sustain the tempo against economic saboteurs. 

“The GOC also called on the good people of the region to continue to support the ongoing crackdown on criminal networks whose stock-in-trade is the compromise of critical national infrastructure in the NDR.”