Nigerian Army Shuts Down 42 Illegal Refineries In Niger Delta, Arrests 29 Suspects

The Nigerian Army has dismantled 42 illegal refining sites and arrested 29 individuals linked to oil theft during recent operations in the Niger Delta region. This intensified effort is part of the Army’s ongoing campaign to curb crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, according to reports by LMSINT MEDIA.

Army’s Successful Operations

In a statement issued on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, revealed that the operations conducted from December 9 to 15, 2024, also led to the recovery of 197,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

The crackdown targeted key areas across Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta States, dismantling infrastructure used for illicit activities. Among the items confiscated were:

32 boats
12 vehicles
8 motorcycles

These measures aim to disrupt the network of crude oil theft while mitigating environmental damage in the region.

Details of the Operations

In Bayelsa State:

Around the Biseni Forest in Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA), troops deactivated four newly established illegal refining sites, recovering 37,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
At Benkrukru near the Oando Wellhead in Okordia Forest, another site was deactivated, where 29,900 litres of crude oil and 2,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were seized.
In the Olukama and Sabasuo areas of Nembe LGA, an illegal refining site was dismantled, including a wooden boat loaded with 5,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
At Igbomotoru Creek in Southern Ijaw, a wooden boat concealed within the creek contained over 1,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

In Rivers State:

Operations near Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA resulted in the deactivation of three illegal refining sites. Troops intercepted a wooden boat and five fibre boats, recovering over 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil.