Monday, July 14, 2025: It’s a good news day for Nigeria, with reports emerging today of a significant crackdown on oil theft, a persistent drain on the nation’s resources. The Nigerian Army has been hard at work, disrupting illegal operations and sending a clear message to those involved in this illicit trade.
Led by the 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma announced the successful dismantling of 11 illegal refinery hubs across several states: Rivers, Abia, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom. In a major blow to the criminals, the operations have resulted in the arrest of 50 suspects.
But the impact doesn’t stop there. The coordinated two-week operation, which wrapped up yesterday, Sunday, July 13, 2025, has resulted in the seizure of an impressive haul of stolen products. A staggering 25,000 liters of stolen products were recovered, along with illegal refining sites, crude oil, various chemicals, boats, and other equipment used in the shady business of oil theft.
Speaking on the operation, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma detailed a particularly successful raid along the Imo River, where troops destroyed seven illegal refining sites, including a significant number of processing equipment.
This recent success is just the latest in a series of offensives targeting oil theft across the Niger Delta region. From April to July 2025, Operation Delta Safe has uncovered a vast network of illegal refining operations, dismantling a whopping 189 refining sites. This has led to the recovery of over 2.38 million liters of stolen crude oil, along with more than 600,000 liters of illegally refined diesel, 41,000 liters of kerosene, and 27,000 liters of petrol. Vehicles, boats, and various equipment used in transporting the stolen goods were also confiscated. Twelve suspected oil thieves are now in custody, facing further investigation.
While this operation focuses on the oil-rich areas, the Armed Forces are engaged on multiple fronts. In the Northeast, for example, troops are continuing to target Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in areas such as the Sambisa Forest, the Timbuktu Triangle, and Gwoza. This ongoing action demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the Nigerian Army to protect the nation’s resources and maintain security across all fronts.
