The Defence Headquarters has announced that troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 27 illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region during May 2025, as part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft in Nigeria.
According to a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, the troops successfully foiled oil theft operations valued at over N31.4 million.
Seized Items and Arrests
The military operation resulted in the seizure of 77,530 litres of stolen crude oil, 10,340 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), 2,700 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and 1,240 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
"Troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained operational tempo against crude oil thieves and other criminals in the Niger Delta," Kangye stated.
The troops also discovered and destroyed significant infrastructure used in illegal oil operations, including 21 crude oil cooking ovens, 34 dugout pits, 13 boats, one barge, one tug boat, 40 storage tanks, and nine drums.
Additionally, 27 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested during the operations, with various items recovered including outboard engines, pipes, pumping machines, drilling machines, horses, tricycles, motorcycles, mobile phones, and nine vehicles.
Anti-Kidnapping Operations
The defence spokesman further revealed that troops conducted anti-kidnapping and anti-criminality operations on June 1 in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. During these operations, three criminals were apprehended, and various weapons, ammunition, mobile phones, laptops, television sets, and a vehicle were seized.
The military also arrested 13 suspected vandals and criminals across multiple local government areas, including Sapele, Aniocha North, and Ugheli in Delta State, as well as Degema and Ekeremor in Rivers and Bayelsa States respectively.
These operations highlight the Nigerian military's continued commitment to combating oil theft and related criminal activities that have long plagued the resource-rich Niger Delta region and negatively impacted the nation's economy.
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