Nigerian Army’s 6 Division Scores Major Successes Against Oil Theft, Vandalism in Niger Delta

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

ABUJA/PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Division, operating in close coordination with other security agencies, have sustained an intensified operational campaign across the Niger Delta Region, achieving significant breakthroughs in the ongoing fight against oil theft, pipeline vandalism and related economic crimes that have long plagued the country’s petroleum infrastructure.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Division, the multi-agency efforts between November 23 and December 28, 2025 resulted in the arrest of 19 suspected oil thieves, the deactivation of 22 illegal refining and bunkering sites, and the recovery of over 180,000 litres of stolen petroleum products — with a combined estimated value exceeding ₦150 million.

The operations, conducted across key oil-producing states including Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom, were described by military officials as part of a sustained campaign to disrupt criminal syndicates that have not only cost the nation vast revenue losses but also contributed to environmental degradation and insecurity in coastal and rural communities.

Lt. Col. Danjuma emphasised that the arrests and seizures reflect improved intelligence-driven tactics, enhanced interagency collaboration, and a willingness by troops and law enforcement partners to pursue criminal networks beyond mere surface monitoring. “Our troops and sister security agencies have maintained a high operational tempo across the Niger Delta, penetrating criminal enclaves and degrading the infrastructure that sustains illegal refining and bunkering,” he said.

Recovered petroleum products — including premium motor spirit (PMS) and diesel — were documented at various operational locations before being transferred to secure storage pending formal inventory and legal processes. In addition to liquid fuel seizures, soldiers seized equipment associated with illegal refining, such as wooden boilers, sundry metal drums, connecting pipes and generators, which are commonly used to siphon crude and refine products illicitly.

Security officials noted that the operations were deliberately phased to minimise environmental impact and prevent spillages, particularly around riverine and swamp corridors that are ecologically sensitive. They added that engagements with local vigilante groups and community leaders have bolstered naval and army patrols in navigable creeks, curbing freedom of movement for syndicates that previously exploited the terrain to evade capture.

The crackdown also involved routine aerial surveillance, intelligence sharing with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and coordination with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which plays a statutory role in protecting the nation’s critical energy infrastructure. These multi-layered efforts are designed to complement legal frameworks such as the Petroleum Act and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract, which criminalise illegal refining, bunkering and theft.

The 6 Division’s achievements form part of a broader national strategy to protect oil revenue — a backbone of Nigeria’s economy — and to enhance investor confidence in the country’s security environment. Analysts have welcomed the results, saying that consistent enforcement actions against oil criminals could reduce the annual economic drain caused by theft and environmental liabilities, which historically have run into hundreds of billions of naira.

Yet, they also caution that sustainable success will require enduring policy measures, rehabilitation of affected communities, socio-economic programmes for youth employment, and accountability within the petroleum value chain to reduce incentives for participation in crude theft.

For now, security authorities remain focused on consolidating gains, expanding intelligence networks, and ironing out operational challenges as they pursue remaining suspects linked to the dismantled bunkering hubs. The 6 Division and partner agencies have pledged to sustain momentum in the new year, with additional patrols, interdiction drives and community engagement initiatives aimed at denying criminals safe havens across the Niger Delta.

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