Crackdown on Illegal Refineries: Troops Deactivate Sites, Confiscate Goods and Arrest Suspects in Niger Delta


The military efforts to combat illegal refining activities, the deactivation of refineries, confiscation of products, and arrest of suspects in the Niger Delta region is yielding result.

In a bid to consolidate on the operational successes recorded, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army have maintained foothold of the operating environment in the Niger Delta region. 

This was evident during a clearance operation conducted at the fringes of the Imo River, a thickly forested area known to be a haven for illegal bunkering activities. 

6 Division Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma in a press statememt noted that the area which is a border between Abia and Rivers States is concealed from air reconnaissance, as criminals engage in large scale economic sabotage without being detected easily. 

The intelligence led operation, which was conducted by 29 Battalion in conjunction with other security agencies led to the successful deactivation of over thirteen (13) illegal refining sites, with massive dugouts, which had Seven(7) filled with over Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand(250,000) litres of stolen crude. This was in addition to over Ten Thousand(10,000) litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil(AGO), as well as other associated products uncovered in the area. 

In the same vein, troops of 2 Brigade, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a Toyota Bus with Reg No UYY 962 MJ, at Abeapo Community along Road Onna - Eket in Onna LGA of Akwa Ibom State. 

The bus was conveying over twenty(20) bags of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil, estimated to be over 1000 litres. Three(3) suspects have been arrested in connection to the crime and are currently being interrogated.

The General Officer Commnading, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, while commending troops for the successes recorded, called on the criminal elements in the region to embrace legitimate means of livelihood or be ready to face the full wrath of the law. He also called on them to shun any act capable of sabotaging critical national infrastructures and assets.

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