The troops of Division 6, the Nigerian army have broken 18 illegal bunkering sites and arrested 28 alleged oil thieves in the states of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.
The Interim Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, revealed this in a statement on Monday.
Danjuma said the operations were carried out between April 7 and 13, 2025, in collaboration with other security agencies.
“The troops of Division 6, the Nigerian army, have frustrated several attempts to restore new illegal bunkering camps in the Niger Delta region. These efforts led to the arrest of 28 alleged oil thieves, the dismantling of 18 illegal bunkering sites and the recovery of more than 72,000 liters of stolen products in the entire region,” he said.
According to the statement, in the state of Rivers, the troops intensified operations that interrupted illegal bunkering activities around the Joinkrama 4 forest in the area of the local government of Ahoada West, where welding machines and newly built drums were recovered.
The statement was also declared after credible intelligence, the troops assaulted the Tropicana hotel in the same LGA and intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles loaded with more than 1,300 liters of illegally refined refined automotive petrol oil, which were abandoned by the drivers fleeing.
In Krakrama Wellhead 12 in wallet, Degema Lga, the declared revealed that three suspects tried to compromise the installation were arrested.
There were also three wooden ships loaded with more than 1,500 liters of stolen crude oil, while four other suspects were arrested during monitoring operations in the same place.
Several equipment used in illegal activities were destroyed in Okarki.
He also said that on the margin of the IMO River, six illegal refining sites were deactivated, with 41 battery pots, 18 battery receptors and 540 catches containing more than 11,000 liters of recovered stolen products.
The troops also destroyed recently built bunkering infrastructure to avoid restoration of sites.
In the state of Delta, along the Koko -Obitigbo road, the troops intercepted a quarry truck, a Ford bus and a fuel tank truck that transmits more than 25,200 liters of stolen products.
A separate operation also led to the interception of a fuel oil tanker that transported more than 10,000 liters of stolen oil in Koko.
In the Oton area -Sapele Lga's area, an illegal bunkering camp was discovered in the forest, where the troops recovered 100 cellophane bags containing more than 3,350 liters, a drum and an iron tank full of illegally refined, along with other embotese paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, in the state of Bayelsa, around the Biseni community in the LGA Yenagoa, three illegal refining sites with more than 2,100 liters of stolen oil stored in shelter wells were discovered.
In Okordia, in the same LGA, another illegal refining site was deactivated, with more than 1,500 liters of stolen products recovered.
In the state of Akwa Ibom, the troops intercepted eight 30-liter Jerricans full of what was filled along the Okobo-Uyo road in Okobo Lga.
All arrested suspects have been delivered to the relevant authorities for prosecution, while recovered products were eliminated by operational guidelines.