From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division have intensified their crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta region. Between April 21 and 27, they arrested 23 suspected oil thieves and deactivated 13 illegal refineries, recovering over 180,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.
Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, confirmed these achievements in a statement issued on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He said the operations, conducted with other security agencies, targeted criminal activities across the region.
In Rivers State, troops recovered over 45,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) hidden in sacks in the Orachi/Okolomade area of Abia/Odual Local Government Area (LGA). The products were concealed in a dense forest. In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, troops destroyed an active illegal refinery and seized over 28,000 litres of stolen crude from two reservoirs. Similar operations took place in Bonny and along the Imo River.
In Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta States, troops arrested several suspects and confiscated more stolen products. In Akwa Ibom, a tanker truck carrying 39,994 litres of stolen products was intercepted along the Itu–Calabar highway, with two suspects arrested and fake waybills recovered.
Major General Emmanuel Emekah, General Officer Commanding 6 Division, urged troops to maintain pressure on economic saboteurs. He also appealed to residents to provide credible information to support military efforts against criminals in the region.