In a significant blow to oil thieves, Nigerian troops have deactivated 42 illegal oil refining sites and seized 197,000 litres of stolen crude in the Niger Delta region.
This operation, which took place from December 9 to 15, 2024, is part of the ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and economic sabotage in the region.
The troops also arrested 29 suspected oil thieves and demobilized 32 boats, 12 vehicles, and eight motorcycles used for illegal activities.
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In Bayelsa State, four newly established illegal refining sites were deactivated, with 37,000 litres of stolen crude recovered.
Similar operations were conducted in Rivers State, where three illegal refining sites and several boats were intercepted with over 30,000 litres of stolen crude.
In Delta State, troops discovered an active illegal refining site with five ovens and about 5,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, commended the troops for their efforts and reassured that the ongoing operations would be sustained to achieve the target set for December 2024.
This crackdown on oil theft is a significant step towards protecting Nigeria’s economy and natural resources. With the military’s sustained efforts, oil thieves are being forced to rethink their illegal activities.