Army arrests 28 oil thieves, recover 290,000 litres of stolen crude oil

Men of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, have attested 28 suspected oil thieves and recovered 290,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.  This was in consolidating their efforts in the ongoing Anti-Crude Oil Theft operations in the Niger Delta Region. The Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel, Jonah Danjuma, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt, said the success was recorded in its operation in states of the region between the 6th and 19th of October. The statement said: “The operations, conducted between 6 and 19 October 2025, resulted in the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves, the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, and seizure of over 290,000 litres of stolen products across the region.” Danjuma in the statement said operations were conducted in parts of Rivers, Abia, Delta and Bayelsa States, adding that suspected were arrested in each of the operations. It read: “Several operations were conducted across Rivers State with tremendous successes recorded.
At Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area (LGA), two wooden boats were intercepted while loading Premium Motor Spirit from a vessel offloading the product at a jetty. Additionally, two boats were intercepted at Okrika, with one loaded with over 33,000 litres of stolen products at a jetty in Okrika. Relatedly, another wooden boat loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen products was also intercepted in the area. In a related development, following a tip-off on illegal oil bunkering activities around a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, troops swung into action and impounded a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU coming out of the pipeline right of way. The vehicle was suspected to have loaded about 90,000 litres of stolen products from the site.
Two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, were taken into custody. Also, at Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, over 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered. “Along Imo River, troops deactivated two illegal refining sites and seized three drum pots, three receivers, and over 2,500 litres of stolen crude around Obuzor, Asa Asa in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State. At Orashi River waterside, two wooden boats were intercepted with over 700 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene recovered. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, troops acted on credible intelligence on the activities of oil thieves along the PAN Ocean Pipeline right of way in Ethiope East LGA. On sighting troops, the criminals fled. However, one suspect was arrested and various items recovered. These included vandalized pipes, hoses, a large quantity of Bagco sacks, and leather materials. Others included one Peugeot 406 car, a Camry car, one Toyota Jeep, as well as a lorry van loaded with over 1,650 litres of stolen products. In Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, troops have scaled up both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, effectively dominating the operational landscape and thereby denying criminal elements the freedom of action.”