From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA) have arrested 43 suspected oil thieves, uncovered 27 illegal bunkering sites and  recovered over 161,000 litres of stolen products across the Niger Delta Region (NDR), in the latest crackdown. 
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah has lauded troops for their resilience in the ongoing crackdown.
He further enjoined them to sustain the tempo against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday, said the operations were conducted in synergy with other security agencies between 26 May – 8 June, 2025 in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.
He said in Rivers State, 11 suspected oil thieves were apprehended in connection to the crime.
Danjuma stated that the troops recovered several equipment used by the oil thieves in their operations in the affected states.
He said: “In Bayelsa State, along Zarama-Joinkrama 4, troops discovered an illegal connection point at Wellhead 10 connected to an illegal refining site. In a follow up operations conducted, five cooking ovens, five reservoirs, five dugout pits, a generator and over 30,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered.
“Additionally, 19 big pots, 18 drum pots, 36 drum receivers, 19 drum coolants, a pumping, 6 metallic drum receiver stocked with over 4,000 litres of Illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) and over 27,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 460 sacks were handled.
“In Akwa Ibom State, a suspected oil thief was arrested at Ekparakwa along Ikot Abasi-Oruk Anam LGA, with 63 Nylon bags filled with over 1,900 litres of stolen AGO, while on transit with an Infinity Jeep with Registration Number APR 105 KX Abia State.
“Relatedly, two suspected oil thieves were arrested along Abak-Ikot Abasi road also in Abak LGA, in a Toyota Camry with Registration Number UJ 804 KJA Lagos, loaded with over 840 litres of PMS, stocked in 31 Nylon bags.
“Similarly, in Delta State, within Obodo, Ugbukoko, Jatumi and Obofo Oil Fields, in Warri South LGA, troops discovered two wooden boats loaded with over 3,600 litres of stolen crude stored in 120 cellophane bags concealed in a Creek.
“At Bennett Ogboloja area, also in Warri South LGA, two illegal refining sites, two ovens, two pumping machines as well as a makeshift shop stocked with drums of illegally refined AGO, estimated to be over 500 litres were handled appropriately.
“At Urakpa Gana waterside in Sapele LGA, four suspected oil thieves were arrested in possession of 57 sacks of stolen condensates, estimated to be over 1,800 litres. Relatedly, at Urakpa Gana, troops also intercepted two Toyota vehicles with Registration Numbers GWA 312 KZ and Delta WWR 675 JU loaded with 1,630 litres of condensates filled in 47 bags.”