Troops thwart makes an attempt to re-establish unlawful bunkering websites in Niger-Delta

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Military have smashed 18 unlawful bunkering websites and arrested 28 suspected oil thieves throughout Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.

The Appearing Deputy Director, Military Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Military, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed this in an announcement on Monday.

Danjuma mentioned the operations have been performed between April 7 and 13, 2025, in collaboration with different safety businesses.

“Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Military, have thwarted a number of makes an attempt to re-establish new unlawful bunkering camps within the Niger Delta area. These efforts led to the arrest of 28 suspected oil thieves, the dismantling of 18 unlawful bunkering websites, and the restoration of over 72,000 litres of stolen merchandise throughout the area,” he mentioned.

In keeping with the assertion, in Rivers State, troops intensified operations that disrupted unlawful bunkering actions round Joinkrama 4 Forest in Ahoada West Native Authorities Space, the place welding machines and newly constructed drums have been recovered.

The assertion additional acknowledged following credible intelligence, troops raided De Tropicana Lodge in the identical LGA and intercepted two Toyota Camry autos loaded with over 1,300 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, AGO, which have been deserted by fleeing drivers.

At Krakrama Wellhead 12 in Bille, Degema LGA, the acknowledged disclosed that three suspects trying to compromise the power have been arrested.

Three wood boats loaded with over 1,500 litres of stolen crude oil have been additionally recovered, whereas 4 different suspects have been arrested throughout follow-up operations on the identical location.

A number of items of kit utilized in unlawful actions have been destroyed in Okarki.

It additionally mentioned that on the fringes of the Imo River, six unlawful refining websites have been deactivated, with 41 drum pots, 18 drum receivers, and 540 sacks containing over 11,000 litres of stolen merchandise recovered.

Troops additionally destroyed newly constructed bunkering infrastructure to stop the re-establishment of the websites.

In Delta State, alongside the Koko–Obitigbo Street, troops intercepted a canter truck, a Ford bus, and a gas tanker conveying over 25,200 litres of stolen merchandise.

A separate operation additionally led to the interception of a gas tanker carrying over 10,000 litres of stolen crude in Koko.

Within the Oton–Urakpa space of Sapele LGA, an unlawful bunkering camp was found deep within the forest, the place troops recovered 100 cellophane baggage containing over 3,350 litres, a drum, and an iron tank full of illegally refined AGO, together with different bunkering paraphernalia.

In the meantime, in Bayelsa State, round Biseni Group in Yenagoa LGA, three unlawful refining websites have been uncovered with over 2,100 litres of stolen crude saved in dugout pits.

At Okordia, in the identical LGA, one other unlawful refining web site was deactivated, with greater than 1,500 litres of stolen merchandise recovered.

In Akwa Ibom State, troops intercepted eight 30-litre jerricans full of AGO alongside the Okobo–Uyo Street in Okobo LGA.

All arrested suspects have been handed over to the related authorities for prosecution, whereas recovered merchandise have been disposed of per operational pointers.