To sustain the crackdown against economic sabotage and associated crimes in the Niger Delta region, troops of the 6th Division Nigerian Army, have thwarted several attempts at re-establishing illegal bunkering camps.
These efforts led to the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves, dismantling of 18 illegal sites, and the recovery of over 72,000 litres of stolen products across the region by the troops from 7 – 13 April, 2025 in conjunction with other security agencies.
In Rivers state, troops scaled up operational activities, which effectively thwarted attempts by the criminals to set up new illegal bunkering sites.
This was evident around Joinkrama 4 Forest in Ahoada West local government area, where wielding and cutting machines, with several newly constructed drums were recovered.
A statement issued Sunday in Port Harcourt by the Army spokesperson, Lt. Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, stated that following credible intelligence, troops raided De Tropicana Hotel in Ahoada West LGA and intercepted two Toyota Camry vehicles with over 1,300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) in sacks. The drivers abandoned their vehicles and fled.
Lt. Col. Danjuma added that around Krakrama Wellhead 12 at Bille in Degema LGA, 3 suspects were arrested at the site in a attempt to compromise the facility. Furthermore, troops combed the area and recovered three wooden boats loaded with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude. In a follow operations conducted at the Wellhead 12, four suspected vandals were arrested. Several operations were also conducted in Okarki, with a number of equipment used for illegalities demobilised.
“Similarly, clearance operations were conducted at the fringes of Imo River with 6 illegal refining sites deactivated, 41 drum pots, 18 drum receivers destroyed and 540 sacks filled with over 11,000 litres of stolen products recovered. Troops also thwarted several attempts by the economic saboteurs to re-establish their nefarious hubs at the fringes of the Imo River, with seizures as well as various newly constructed drum pots and receivers destroyed.”
