By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have recorded major successes in the fight against crude oil theft and economic sabotage, recovering more than 464,268 litres of stolen petroleum products and dismantling 12 illegal refining sites during the second quarter of 2026.
The achievements were announced by the Defence Headquarters during its monthly and second-quarter operational briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said troops of Operation Delta Safe sustained aggressive operations across the Niger Delta, targeting illegal refining camps, oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminal networks undermining the nation’s economy.
According to the DHQ, troops arrested 84 suspects linked to crude oil theft and related crimes during the quarter, while several illegal refining sites and storage facilities were destroyed across Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom states.
One of the major breakthroughs occurred at Okarki Forest in Rivers State, where troops uncovered and dismantled an illegal crude oil siphoning installation connected to a network of illicit refining activities.
Security forces also intercepted a truck carrying approximately 45,000 litres of illegally acquired black oil along Stadium Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while another operation led to the seizure of a large wooden boat loaded with about 20,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Rivers State.
Further operations between June 19 and June 22 resulted in the interception of approximately 103,500 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO at APS Limited Jetty in Woji, Rivers State, and another 63,290 litres along the Orashi Forest corridor.
Troops also uncovered a trampoline tank containing about 4,000 litres of stolen crude oil at Amukpe in Delta State, while a major fuel dump linked to oil thieves was raided in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
For the month of June alone, troops dismantled seven illegal refining sites and recovered more than 308,515 litres of petroleum products, including crude oil, Automotive Gas Oil, Dual Purpose Kerosene and Premium Motor Spirit.
Major General Onoja said the sustained operations have dealt a significant blow to organised oil theft syndicates and assured that the Armed Forces would continue protecting critical national assets and denying economic saboteurs the opportunity to undermine Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
