The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has arrested 29 suspected oil thieves, dismantled 24 illegal refineries, and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region.

The operation, conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, targeted several states within the region, according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma.

“In the latest crackdown on illegal oil bunkering, troops of the 6 Division, working alongside other security agencies, successfully apprehended 29 suspected oil thieves, deactivated 24 illegal refining sites, demobilised 11 boats, and recovered over 60,000 litres of stolen petroleum products,” the statement read.

The army said between February 3 and 9, 2025, troops carried out clearance operations along the Imo River, where six illegal refining sites were dismantled.

During the raid, 113 drum pots and 83 drum receivers were destroyed, while two boats were demobilised. Over 18,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were recovered.

In Obigbo, Rivers State, troops uncovered a hidden reservoir containing over 1,000 litres of stolen crude, along with 100 sacks filled with approximately 1,500 litres of illegally obtained products.

Similarly, in the Buguma area of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area, soldiers raided an illegal refining site with two large refining pots and two receivers, one of which contained over 9,000 litres of stolen crude.

The operation also extended to Ebocha Well 5, where troops discovered 28 empty locally-made ovens and reservoirs filled with 5,900 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil and 3,500 litres of stolen crude.