As part of routine operational tour to ascertain troop’s operational readiness in the onslaught against oil thieves, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Emekah visited troops locations around Ibaa and Rumuji waterways in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 6 Division Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah said the GOC visited the notorious Ibaa bunkering hub in Emohua LGA, where he was briefed on the mindless criminality in the area.
GOC 6 DIVISION EMBARKS ON OPERATIONAL TOUR…Troops Maintain Trajectory Against Economic Saboteurs –
The GOC also had engagement with critical stakeholders and management team of totalEnergies to evolve more effective ways of ensuring zero infractions on pipelines, reduction in oil theft and associated crimes in the Niger Delta Region.
The troops in the Niger Delta Region have also continued to maintain onslaught against economic saboteurs with several operations conducted in conjunction with other security agencies between 10 – 16 March 2025.
During the operations, troops arrested 32 suspected oil thieves, intercepted several vehicles, confiscated over 160,000 litres of stolen products, dismantled 21 illegal refining sites, and demobilized 8 boats used for criminality across the region.
Troops in Rivers State intercepted a truck without plate number, loaded with 45,000 litres of stolen crude along Apajo – Elelenwo Road in Obio – Akpor LGA. The troops uncovered a newly constructed illegal refining site with 10 trains, three pots and a dump having over 20,000 litres of stolen products at Olughighi ahead of Freedom, at Opobo River.
Also recovered were one large receiver, metal pipes, cooling system, shelter, 100 meters hose with a reservoir stocked with over 2,000 litres of stolen products were handled in accordance with subsisting operational mandate around Bille in Degema LGA. 32 sacks filled with over 1,600 litres of stolen products were recovered around Ogaji – Ama Creeks in Asari-Toru LGA, . At the fringes of Imo River, several illegal refining sites, over 90 drum pots, 40 drum receivers as well as unquantified quantity of stolen products were handled appropriately.
Similarly, in Delta State, along Ughelli – Patani expressway, a Mack Tanker conveying 45,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude was intercepted. The troops equally intercepted three vehicles ( 2 Ford J5 vehicles and one Sequoia Jeep) conveying over 5,000 litres of stolen products stocked in sacks at Ndemili Community in Ika South LGA. Two suspected oil thieves were arrested at the scene.
Relatedly, troops on routine patrols at the densely forested and swampy areas of Eretu Forest in Sapele LGA, discovered an illegal bunkering camp concealed under the forest. The camp had two cooking ovens and 15 cellophane bags filled with over 1,200 litres of stolen products. At Ode Itsekiri Community in Warri South LGA, one local canoe loaded with 50 cellophane bags filled with over 1,100 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, were intercepted and handled accordingly.
Meanwhile, troops discovered one illegal refining site with a boat and over 1,500 litres of stolen products in Bayelsa State, along Ladugbene – Ayeregbene Communities in Southern Ijaw LGA (SILGA). The troops have proactively maintained vigilance along the waterways and hinterlands to thwart possible economic sabotage in Akwa Ibom State.
The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah while commending the troops’ resilience, charge them to maintain the operational tempo to effectively deny the economic saboteurs freedom of action. He also affirmed that, troops in the NDR have resolved to continually rid the region of oil theft, pipeline vandalism and associated crimes.
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