The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, in collaboration with other security agencies, has successfully dismantled 115 illegal refining sites and seized 66 boats involved in illicit activities in Rivers and Bayelsa states. The operations led to the arrest of 22 suspects linked to oil theft and other criminal activities.
The acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, detailed these accomplishments in a statement issued on Sunday. He reported that the operations, conducted simultaneously last week, effectively curbed the activities of economic saboteurs in the region.
In addition to the destruction of illegal refining sites, the army recovered 27 stolen pipes, four pumping machines, and clamped five illegal connections used to siphon crude oil. Over 170,000 liters of stolen products were confiscated, and other equipment used in the illegal operations was deactivated.
In Bayelsa State, operations targeted areas such as Ibidi, Twon Brass, and Southern Ijaw LGA, where troops intercepted and destroyed several illegal refining sites and boats, recovering an estimated 90,000 liters of stolen products. Similar successes were recorded in Rivers State, particularly around the Imo River, where 79 illegal refining sites were dismantled and 59 wooden boats were seized.
In a significant operation, troops acting on intelligence arrested four suspects at an installation near Cawthorne Channel II in Degema LGA. The suspects were caught with a wooden boat filled with stolen pipeline parts.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to maintain a zero-tolerance approach to illegal refinery activities and related crimes in the Niger Delta region. He also called on local communities to support the fight against these illegal activities, emphasizing the environmental and economic damage they cause.
