Troops of the Nigerian Army have intensified their clampdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta, arresting at least 17 suspects and confiscating more than 45,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products in a series of raids across four states.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the operations are part of ongoing efforts to protect national assets and curb the menace of oil vandalism.
In Rivers State, soldiers patrolling Okarki Community in Ahoada West intercepted a Toyota 4Runner SUV carrying 1,600 litres of suspected stolen diesel.
The driver reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled. Further patrols led to the recovery of 23 sacks filled with refined products, while in Degema, a wooden boat transporting petroleum products was seized.
At Obiafor in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, troops uncovered a vandalised pipeline, retrieving a 250-metre hose, metal pipes, and six sacks containing 300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
In Delta State, troops stormed an illegal storage hub at Ogwu Community in Warri South, where they discovered a tanker truck loaded with over 10,000 litres of AGO, alongside a massive storage facility holding 20,000 litres of stolen diesel, pumping machines, and metering equipment.
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Bayelsa State also witnessed coordinated raids in Biseni, Yenagoa Local Government Area, where dugout pits and refining sites were destroyed.
In Okordia, soldiers intercepted a Toyota Camry (registration ASB 71 BG) transporting drums filled with more than 600 litres of AGO.
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom, security patrols were intensified along oil theft-prone routes, effectively restricting the movement of vandals and disrupting their supply lines.
The Army stressed that its operations are designed not only to dismantle the network of economic saboteurs but also to protect the environment and strengthen Nigeria’s oil industry.