By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Port Harcourt
Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have arrested fourteen suspected oil thieves and dismantled fourteen illegal refining hubs across the Niger Delta region. The troops also confiscated over 20,205 litres of stolen petroleum products during multiple operations.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, said the troops remain resolute in their campaign against oil theft and economic sabotage in the region.
According to him, the operations conducted between October 20 and November 9, 2025, yielded significant results through joint efforts with other security agencies.
“In Rivers State, along the fringes of the Imo River, troops deactivated six illegal refining sites, destroyed fourteen drum pots and nine drum receivers, and confiscated over 8,000 litres of stolen products.
The recoveries were made around Asa, Okonta, and Okoloma in Oyigbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, and Obuzor in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State,” the statement read.
Jonah added that at the abandoned Wellhead 3 near the remote manifold axis, troops seized forty-two sacks containing over 1,250 litres of stolen crude oil, with similar operations carried out in Ozochi Community, Ahoada East LGA, and Angalama in Asari-Toru LGA.
“In Delta State, troops arrested three suspects at Eruemukohwarien in Ughelli North LGA and impounded a J5 bus and motorcycle loaded with over 4,000 litres of condensate.
“Also, at Bipoko Community in Warri South LGA, troops uncovered an active illegal refining site with a cooking oven and thirty-eight sacks filled with over 1,140 litres of stolen crude oil,” he stated.
He further disclosed that in Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted a truck loaded with over 3,287 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) being transloaded from an underground facility at Olive Field Filling Station along Uyo–Ikot Ekpene Road in Ikot Ekpene LGA.
Jonah also confirmed that the troops sustained anti-bunkering operations in Bayelsa State, with suspects and recovered items handed over to appropriate authorities in line with existing operational mandates.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum in safeguarding national assets.
Major General Emekah, who spoke during the commissioning of a 24-bed hospital built by TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria with support from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), reiterated the army’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.