The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested 28 suspected oil thieves and recovered over 290,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Niger Delta region. The operation, conducted between October 6 and 19, 2025, targeted illegal refining sites and oil theft activities across Rivers, Abia, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states. 290,000 litres of stolen petroleum products were seized across the region, 4 illegal refining sites were deactivated and 28 suspects were arrested.
“The operations, conducted between October 6 and 19, 2025, resulted in the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves, the deactivation of four illegal refining sites, and seizure of over 290,000 litres of stolen products across the region. Several operations were conducted across Rivers State with tremendous successes recorded At Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area. two wooden boats were intercepted while loading Premium Motor Spirit from a vessel offloading the product at a jetty.
Additionally, two boats were intercepted at Okrika, with one loaded with over 33,000 litres of stolen products at a jetty in Okrika. Relatedly, another wooden boat loaded with over 5,000 litres of stolen products was also intercepted in the area. In a related development, following a tip-off on illegal oil bunkering activities around a pipeline after Sterling Global Company Road, Akpabo, at Elele Alimini in Emohua LGA, troops swung into action and impounded a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU coming out of the pipeline right of way. The vehicle was suspected to have loaded with 90,000 litres of stolen products from the site. Two suspects, the driver and his motor boy, were taken into custody.
Also, at Okolomade in Abua/Odual LGA, over 2,600 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered.” Jonah Danjuma, Public Relations Lieutenant to the 6 Division Army revealed in a statement released from Port Harcourt.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum in clamping down on economic saboteurs.
