Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies have intensified the crackdown against crude oil theft and associated crimes across the Niger Delta region.
The operations, which were conducted between 12 and 18 May 2025, led to the arrest of 38 suspected oil thieves, deactivation of 28 illegal refining sites, several locally made boats used for the criminality destroyed, with over 700,000 litres of stolen products recovered across the region.
In various anti-COT operations conducted in Rivers state, particularly around Okolomade, Orashi and Ozochi forests, troops made significant inroads. During the operations, troops traced an illegal connection seated directly on a Wellhead at Ozochi Forest.
A statement issued by the Army spokesman of 6 Division, Lt Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in Port Harcourt on Sunday said in a follow up operations conducted, troops discovered over 200 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) with over 300,000 litres of stolen crude in cooking ovens and 300,000 litres of stolen AGO confiscated.
Lt Col. Danjuma added that other seizures included six cooking ovens of 100,000 litres capacity each, Four reservoirs, Six receivers, pumping machines and generators. Also, recovered were hoses used for transporting the stolen products over a distance. Three suspected oil thieves have been taken into custody in connection to the malfeasance.