Sele Media Africa
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Reported by Amos Dachung (Sele Media Africa Reporter)

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Army Arrests 28 Suspected Oil Thieves, Recovers Over 290,000 Litres of Stolen Products in Niger Delta

Troops of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, acting alongside other security agencies, have arrested 28 suspected oil thieves and seized over 290,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in a major operation across the Niger Delta region. [1]

The operations, conducted between 6 and 19 October 2025, also resulted in the deactivation of four illegal refining sites in states including Rivers, Delta, Abia, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom. [1]

In Rivers State, troops intercepted two wooden boats in Okrika loaded with stolen products — one carrying over 33,000 litres, and another with more than 5,000 litres. [2]
Elsewhere in Emohua LGA, a tanker with registration number Rivers JJN 287 ZU was sequestered after it was found transporting about 90,000 litres of stolen products from a pipeline right‑of‑way. [1]

In other states:
•⁠ ⁠In Abia State’s Ukwa West LGA, two illegal refining sites were neutralised and over 2,500 litres of crude oil were recovered.
•⁠ ⁠In Delta State, along the PAN Ocean pipeline corridor in Ethiope East LGA, one suspect was arrested and items including vandalised pipes, hoses, and a lorry carrying over 1,650 litres of stolen products were recovered. [1]

The General Officer Commanding of the 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Eric Emekah, commended the troops for their achievements and urged them to maintain the momentum against economic saboteurs. [3]

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This operation marks one of the most significant recorded recoveries of stolen petroleum products in recent months, underscoring the military’s intensified crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal refining in Nigeria’s oil‑rich Niger Delta region.
Citations:

1. Trending News: www.tvcnews.tv/troops-arrest-28-crude-oil-thieves-recover-290000-litres-in-niger-delta-region/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Channels Television: www.channelstv.com/2025/10/20/troops-arrest-28-suspected-oil-thieves-seize-290000-litres-of-petrol-in-ndelta/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/army-arrests-28-suspected-oil-thieves-recovers-stolen-products-in-niger-delta/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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