Troops bust illegal bunkering sites, recover over 591,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta region.

Monday, May 12, 2025 - Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have uncovered and dismantled several massive illegal bunkering hubs, recovering over 591,000 litres of stolen petroleum products across the Niger Delta region.

Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, acting Deputy Director, 6 Division, Army Public Relations, disclosed in a statement that the troops also arrested 36 suspected oil thieves.

The statement noted that in Rivers State, troops discovered and traced a hose spanning over 15 kilometres, connected to an illegal loading point around the Orashi Game Reserve-Okolomade area in Abua-Odual Local Government Area, LGA.

“In a follow-up operation, five illegal refining sites with a large metal tank containing over 350,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, were handled in line with the subsisting operational mandate.

“These were in addition to large ovens, with a massive dugout filled with over 100,000 litres of stolen crude, handled appropriately. Several items, including a pumping machine, borehole, electric cables and sockets, were recovered at the scene,” the statement said.

At the fringes of the notorious Imo River, troops destroyed seven illegal refining sites, confiscated 1,428 bags of stolen products—estimated to be over 21,500 litres of crude—demobilised five boats used in the illicit venture, and destroyed 38 drum pots and fifteen drum receivers.

In a similar operation, troops intercepted a truck with registration number EFR 302 XA at Elelenwa, Eleme LGA, loaded with 20,000 litres of stolen products. At Otokolomabie and Coconut Estate in Bonny LGA, following actionable intelligence, troops discovered a Pureputt boat hidden in the creeks, filled with over 10,000 litres of stolen products.

At Okarki Forest in Ahoada West LGA, an illegal refining site comprising an oven, a waste receiver pit, and a 50-metre-long hose was destroyed.

In Bayelsa State, troops intercepted a DAF XF380 tanker truck with registration number ABM 210 XA (Rivers State), loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen AGO. Three suspected oil thieves were apprehended alongside the vehicle. Additionally, in a creek between Oyeregbene and Babragbene communities in Southern Ijaw LGA, a wooden boat loaded with over 1,000 litres of stolen crude was discovered concealed in the waterway.

Likewise, in Akwa Ibom State, acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted a tanker truck with registration number DAM 97 XA, suspected to be conveying over 16,500 litres of stolen crude at Ring Road 2 in Uyo LGA. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting the troops.

In Delta State, around Ovrogbor waterside in Isoko South LGA, troops pursued two Toyota Camry vehicles with registration numbers WWR 542 AJ and GB JI 70 AA. The vehicles were intercepted at Ada-Inri community and found to be loaded with over 1,250 litres of illegally refined AGO. At the Egbokodo general area in Warri South LGA, 38 sacks filled with over 1,175 litres of stolen crude were discovered hidden in the bush.

Troops conducting snap checks in the Koka general area of Oshimili South LGA intercepted a Honda vehicle with registration number AAA 289 BM. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed two locally fabricated pistols, a cutlass, cartridges, and the sum of N25, 100.

All suspects arrested have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution, while all seizures were processed in line with the operational mandate.