Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dealt a massive blow to economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta Region, neutralising several illegal refining operations and seizing stolen products valued at over ₦250 million.
The intensified crackdown, which spanned from April 1 to April 26, 2026, resulted in the arrest of nine suspects and the destruction of ten illegal refining sites across the region.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, confirmed the development, noting that the operations were part of a broader strategy to dominate the operational landscape in the Niger Delta.
According to the Division, the military successfully confiscated over 130,000 litres of stolen crude oil and more than 26,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
“Our troops, working in close synergy with other security agencies, have continued to dominate the Niger Delta Region’s operational landscape,” Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma stated. Between the 1st and 26th of April, we recorded significant successes, including the deactivation of ten illegal refining sites and the arrest of nine individuals linked to oil theft. The value of the confiscated products is estimated to be over Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira.”
The operations were particularly intensive in Rivers State. Acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted an abandoned truck with registration number KMC 310 ZV Kano at Ukpeye Community along the East-West Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area.
The vehicle was found to be transporting 45,000 litres of stolen products. Further sweeps in the Orashi National Forest and Abessa Forest in Ahoada West revealed massive reservoirs and drum ovens containing tens of thousands of litres of crude oil and illegally refined AGO.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, specifically at Ebocha and Omoku, troops recovered 266 sacks packed with 17,760 litres of stolen products. Similar discoveries were made in Abua/Odual, where 30 sacks of crude were intercepted.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in the hinterlands and the creeks,” Danjuma emphasised. “At Ebocha, we confiscated nearly 18,000 litres of stolen products, while in the Orashi National Forest, our men uncovered a massive reservoir holding over 35,000 litres of crude. We also destroyed galvanised pipes that were being used to siphon these national assets.”
The military’s reach extended into Delta and Akwa Ibom States as well. In Ethiope, Delta State, troops located a tapping point and a dugout storage pit filled with 2,700 litres of products, while in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, a stockpile of 1,350 litres of AGO was recovered after suspects fled the scene. Bayelsa State remains under firm military dominance to deny oil thieves any freedom of action.
Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, has expressed his satisfaction with the results.
“The General Officer Commanding has highly commended the troops for their resilience and commitment to this cause,” Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma added. “He has further charged all personnel to sustain this operational tempo. Our mission remains clear: we will continue to hunt down economic saboteurs and ensure that associated crimes across the Niger Delta are brought to a definitive end.”
