Army arrests 43 ‘oil thieves’ in Niger Delta

Troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have arrested 43 individuals for allegedly operating illegal artisanal refineries in three Niger Delta states.

Danjuma Danjuma, acting deputy director of army public relations, announced the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

Danjuma named the states as Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, adding that the operation was conducted between March 31 and April 6.

The division’s spokesperson said troops dismantled 14 illegal refineries, seized 14 boats, and confiscated 254,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

Detailing the operations, he said troops in Delta raided Old Ogorode community in Sapele, recovering a bus loaded with 90,000 litres of petroleum products.

“Furthermore, troops confiscated 74,107 drums filled with 16,600 litres of petroleum products and 1,600 litres of illegally refined engine oil,” NAN quoted Danjuma as saying.

“Other items recovered include a tank filled with over 20,000 litres of stolen products, an empty 5,000-litre tank, eight pumping machines, two generators, and two suspects arrested at the crime scene.”

The army spokesperson said troops, in a separate operation in Amukpe, Sapele, intercepted a truck with 56 drums of stolen crude oil and arrested three suspects.

He said troops achieved remarkable successes in Rivers, dismantling illegal sites and seizing 83,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 3,200 litres of refined products across five LGAs.

“The petroleum products were found in Andoni, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Akuku-Toru, and Degema Local Government Areas, stored in more than 80 cooking pots and ovens, as well as in sacks, metal receivers, iron pipes, and a reservoir pit,” Danjuma said.

The spokesperson said in Bayelsa, troops destroyed four illegal refineries in Yenagoa and Ekeremor LGAs and seized 13,500 litres of stolen crude oil.

Danjuma added that troops dismantled over nine cooking drums and receivers, 11 ovens, four drums, and a dug-out reservoir in the course of the raids.

Emmanuel Emeka, general officer commanding the 6 division, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to maintain the operational tempo.