Army deactivate bunkering sites, recover 1.2 million litres of stolen crude in Niger delta

Troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified operations against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region, achieving significant results.

According to a press statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, the operations carried out between November 25 and December 1, 2024, resulted in the dismantling of over 56 illegal oil bunkering sites. The troops also seized 88 cooking drums, 20 boats, and more than 1.2 million liters of stolen crude oil. During this period, 17 suspects were arrested, six illegal pipeline connections were discovered, and seven vehicles and five motorcycles used for economic sabotage were confiscated.

In Bayelsa State, troops deactivated 15 illegal refining sites at an abandoned Oando wellhead in Okordia Forest, Yenagoa Local Government Area. They recovered over 755,000 liters of stolen crude oil and 53,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO). Similarly, in the Biseni Forest area of Yenagoa LGA, 12 illegal refining sites were destroyed, leading to the recovery of 34,000 liters of stolen crude and 5,500 liters of AGO.

In Rivers State, near the Kula I area of Akuku-Toru LGA, troops uncovered an illegal connection to a 36-inch government pipeline. A three-inch hose used as a loading point was recovered alongside a ground reservoir covered with an 80 by 80 tarpaulin containing over 100,000 liters of stolen crude. In Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, an abandoned truck carrying 35,000 liters of stolen crude concealed in a fabricated tank with bags of sawdust was intercepted.

Further operations in the Bakana and Buguma areas of Degema LGA led to the dismantling of eight illegal refining sites. Troops confiscated over 27,000 liters of stolen crude, three wooden boats, a fiber speed boat, several refining pots, and two containers holding AGO. Additionally, a local boat carrying more than 12,000 liters of stolen crude was seized.

These operations underscore the commitment of security forces to combatting economic sabotage in the region and protecting Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.

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