Troops recover 1.2m litres of stolen oil, destroy illegal bunkering sites

By Miracle Ogunde

In the war against oil bunkering and theft in Nigeria, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have destroyed over 56 illegal oil bunkering sanctuaries, 88 cooking drums, and 20 boats, as well as the recovery of over 1.2 million litres of stolen crude across the Niger Delta region.

The acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a press statement said the operations, which were conducted from November 25 to December 1, 2024, in conjunction with other security agencies.

Danjuma said within the period, 17 suspected oil thieves were arrested while seven vehicles were intercepted.

The troops discovered six illegal connection points and also destroyed five motorcycles used for perpetrating economic sabotage across the region.

“In Bayelsa State, at an abandoned Oando wellhead situated in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa Local Government Area, 15 illegal refining sites were deactivated with over 755,000 litres of stolen crude and 53,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, recovered.

“Similarly, around Biseni Forest, also in Yenagoa LGA, 12 illegal refining sites with over 34,000 litres of stolen crude and 5,500 litres of illegally refined AGO were confiscated, ” the statement added.

Similarly in Rivers State, around Kula I general area in Akuku-Toru LGA, troops discovered one illegal connection on a 36-inch government pipeline, with three inches hose connected to it, used as a loading point by oil thieves.

This was in addition to a ground reservoir of 80 by 80 tarpaulin stocked with over 100,000 litres of stolen products recovered during the operations. The operation was also extended to Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, where an abandoned truck ladened with 35,000 litres of stolen crude stocked in a fabricated tank and concealed with bags of sawdust was uncovered.

Also, around Bakana and Buguma general area in Degema LGA, eight illegal refining sites with over 27,000 litres of stolen crude were confiscated. Three wooden boats, one fibre speed boat, several pots of different sizes, two receivers containing AGO and a local boat with over 12,000 litres of stolen crude were intercepted, among others.