Military Destroys 115 Illegal Refineries, Arrests 22 Suspects in Rivers and Bayelsa

The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, has successfully dismantled 115 illegal refining sites and arrested 22 suspects in a sweeping crackdown on oil theft and illegal refining activities in Rivers and Bayelsa states. The operations, which took place last week, also led to the destruction of 66 boats used for transporting stolen crude oil and the recovery of various equipment used in the illicit trade.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, detailed the military’s achievements in a statement issued on Sunday. He highlighted that the operations were aimed at curbing the activities of economic saboteurs who have been illegally refining and stealing crude oil in the Niger Delta region.

“In several operations conducted simultaneously last week, troops have effectively denied criminal elements and economic saboteurs freedom of action with tremendous successes recorded,” Lt. Col. Danjuma stated. He further disclosed that the operations led to the recovery of 27 stolen pipes, four pumping machines, and the deactivation of five illegal connections used to siphon crude oil. Additionally, over 170,000 liters of stolen products were confiscated.

In Bayelsa State, the military’s operations were particularly successful in swampy areas such as the Ibidi general area, Twon Brass, and Agip Terminal in the Brass Local Government Area. During these operations, troops intercepted a large wooden boat carrying over 90,000 liters of illegally refined products. “We also destroyed an illegal refining site, recovered a generator, a pumping machine, and a reservoir in the area,” Danjuma added.

In the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the military confiscated over 7,000 liters of stolen crude oil and dismantled multiple illegal refining sites. This included two sites in Igbomotoru, where a wooden boat and over 2,000 liters of products were seized. Similar operations in Opotoma, Isinugbene, and Oyenegbene resulted in the destruction of several illegal refineries and the recovery of thousands of liters of stolen crude.

The crackdown extended to Rivers State, where troops targeted the notorious Imo River area, destroying 79 illegal refining sites and 59 wooden boats. They also recovered over 40,000 liters of stolen products. In a separate operation, troops acting on intelligence reports arrested four suspects near an installation owned by Webster Global Ventures Limited in Degema Local Government Area. The suspects were caught with a wooden boat carrying stolen installation pipes.

Further operations in the Bille general area and Odagwa in Etche Local Government Area saw the destruction of several illegal refining sites and the recovery of additional stolen crude oil. At Odagwa, troops identified and clamped down on multiple illegal connection points, seizing equipment such as drum pots, a pumping machine, an oven, receivers, and dugout pits.

In another significant seizure, troops intercepted two suspects in Onne Local Government Area transporting 27 stolen Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipes in a pickup truck. “At Krakarma and Bille, four illegal refining sites were destroyed, and six suspected oil thieves were arrested,” Danjuma reported. Similar success was recorded at Ogbogolo forest in Ahoada East, where seven illegal refining sites were dismantled, and over 2,000 liters of stolen products were confiscated.

Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, praised the troops for their efforts and urged them to maintain a zero-tolerance stance against illegal refining activities. He also called on local communities to support the military’s efforts, emphasizing the severe environmental and economic damage caused by these criminal activities.

“The devastation these illegal refineries have caused to our environment and the nation’s economy cannot be overstated,” Maj. Gen. Abdussalam warned, urging community members to play a more active role in eradicating these harmful practices.