General
Security Officials Recover 90,000 Litres of Petrol in Seven Days
By Adedapo Adesanya
As Nigeria steps up efforts to combat illegal oil theft and refining, troops of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, dismantled 20 illegal refining sites and recovered over 90,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in seven days.
It also arrested eight suspected oil thieves and deactivated 21 boats used for criminal activities in operations carried out between December 23 and 29, 2024.
The achievements were outlined in a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations.
The statement detailed that following a tip-off, troops discovered a massive tarpaulin reservoir containing 37,000 litres of stolen condensates and a wooden boat in the Buguma area of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA).
Similarly, at Ogajiama in Buguma/Bakana, troops encountered and overpowered criminal elements in a gun duel, dismantling illegal refining sites and intercepting 9,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK). Three suspected oil thieves were arrested during the operations.
In related operations, troops in Degema, Omoku, and Etche LGAs recovered stolen products and destroyed illegal refining equipment, including locally made ovens and boats.
At the fringes of Imo River, seven illegal refining sites and over 10,000 litres of stolen crude were confiscated while efforts in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States yielded similar successes.
Troops also dismantled illegal refining sites, intercepted smuggled petroleum products, and uncovered vandalism attempts on a Shell Petroleum Development Company flowline in Ekeremor LGA.
In Delta State, kinetic and non-kinetic operations disrupted the activities of economic saboteurs, ensuring enhanced security in the area.
Speaking on this, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding, the 6 Division, commended the troops’ vigilance and urged residents to provide actionable intelligence to support the fight against oil theft and economic sabotage in the region.
These sustained efforts reflect the military’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s critical resources and creating an enabling environment for economic activities to thrive.
